Summary: The dairy industry is
crucial in modern agriculture and the food industry, enhancing national health,
optimizing agricultural structure, and driving related industrial chains.
China's dairy industry has seen steady growth in quality and scale, becoming a
significant producer. Innovations play a key role, meeting diverse consumer
needs and driving sustainable industry upgrades. This article highlights nine
major innovative technologies in China's dairy industry in 2024.
The dairy industry
stands as a pivotal component within modern agriculture and the food industry,
embodying a hallmark of agricultural modernization and serving as a strategic
sector for the harmonious development across primary, secondary, and tertiary
industries. Why does the dairy sector hold such significance? Firstly, milk
serves as a vital nutrient source, offering abundant proteins, calcium, and
other essential nutrients, thereby playing a prominent role in enhancing
national health standards. Secondly, the dairy industry is an integral part of
agriculture, fostering livestock development and optimizing agricultural
structures. Furthermore, it catalyzes the growth of related industrial chains,
including feed production, farming equipment, and logistics distribution,
forming a relatively sophisticated industrial system.
In recent years, China's dairy industry has witnessed a
steady enhancement in industrial quality, maintaining high standards in dairy
product quality. According to the "China Dairy Quality Report
(2024)," in 2023, there were 654 above-scale dairy processing enterprises
in China, with a main business income of RMB 462.09 billion and dairy
production volume reaching 30.546 million tons, establishing China as a genuine
dairy production giant. In the same year, the average milk yield per Holstein
cow nationwide was 9.4 tons, with large-scale farms typically achieving yields
exceeding 10 tons per cow. Dairy products of excellent quality have garnered
multiple awards in international dairy quality competitions.
The inherent dynamism of the dairy industry is
intricately linked to the continuous emergence of innovative technologies. With
consumers increasingly prioritizing health and nutrition, dairy enterprises
have intensified their research efforts, introducing premium products through
sustained technological innovation to cater to diverse consumer demands. These
innovative products not only provide consumers with more options but also
expand market boundaries, creating new growth points for the dairy industry.
Simultaneously, these technological advancements propel industrial upgrading,
fostering sustainable development within the sector.
What are the far-reaching innovative technologies shaping
China's dairy industry in 2024, and have these research outcomes been
implemented? Let's explore the dairy products in our daily lives that have
integrated the latest technological advancements.
1. 1. Name: Targeted Retention Technology for Lactoferrin in UHT
Milk
Overview: By adopting a technological route of "separation and
extraction - individual sterilization - aseptic refilling," this
innovation addresses the challenge of retaining lactoferrin in room-temperature
UHT milk, resolves domestic issues in lactoferrin extraction, and establishes
the world's first automated production demonstration line for room-temperature
active lactoferrin milk, achieving over 90% retention of lactoferrin, a global
leader. It reduces the cost for consumers to obtain lactoferrin and lays the
technical foundation for domestic autonomous production of this key ingredient.
Application: Yili Jindian Active Lactoferrin Organic Milk, QQ-Star Original
Active Lactoferrin Milk
2. 2. Name: Nanofiltration (NF) Filtration Process
Overview: This process concentrates milk proteins and calcium, reaching
protein content of 5.0 g/100mL and calcium content of 170 mg/100mL. While
preserving more high-quality nutrients, it removes some sodium ions, mitigating
consumers' sodium intake burden. Combined with microfiltration (MF)
sterilization, 75°C low-temperature pasteurization, and extra-sterile (ESL)
packaging, it retains higher levels of native proteins, native milk calcium,
and active nutrients.
Application: Guangming Youbei 5.0 Protein Ultra-Fresh Milk
3. 3. Name: Development of Weak Post-Acidification Starter for
Fermented Milk
Overview: This innovation developed JLB-1510, a weak post-acidification
yogurt starter, producing yogurt with a mild aroma and favorable sensory
evaluation. Compared to yogurt made with traditional commercial starters, it
maintains lower acidity and higher pH values for 21 days across temperatures of
4°C, 15°C, room temperature, and 30°C. This technology provides experimental
data to address China's inadequate cold chain transportation system, limited
sales radius for fermented yogurt, and long-term dependence on imported yogurt
starters.
Application: Junlebao "Original Flavored Yogurt" and
"Slow Mellow" series of fermented milk products
4. 4. Name: Qianyan System
Overview: Based on near-infrared technology, this system employs
independently developed equipment, modeling methods, and databases to achieve
millisecond-level monitoring in milk powder production processes, including
standardization, mixing, spray drying, and dry blending. This innovation
ensures absolute process stability throughout production.
Application: Installed on all Feihe production lines
5. 5. Name: Cheese Flavor Synergy Enhancement Mechanism and Key
Industrialization Technologies
Overview: Addressing low acceptance of cheese flavors among Chinese
consumers and inconsistent flavor quality, this technology uses flavor synergy
enhancement and flavor stabilization control. It systematically reveals the
flavor synergy mechanism of cheese, analyzes flavor formation and metabolic
pathways, establishes key technologies for stable cheese flavor quality, and
achieves industrial application.
Application: Applied in the production of Milk Bud dairy products
6. 6. Name: Pro59 Golden Ratio Technology
Overview: Hyproca's "Pro59 Golden Ratio Technology" simulates
maternal nutrition by containing over 59 golden nutrients and combining
multiple cutting-edge technologies such as "dual hydrolysis,"
"amino acid configuration optimization," and "human milk
oligosaccharide simulation." This ensures balanced intake and synergistic
effects of key nutrients in milk powder, enhancing nutritional absorption.
Application: Ausnutria Hyproca Holle Series Comprehensive Nutrition
Formula Milk Powder (Stages 1 to 3)
7. 7. Name: Key Technologies for Quality and Safety Testing of
Processed Foods
Overview: Combining sensitive cell recognition elements for non-targeted
screening of pathogenic microorganisms and high-specificity self-screening
novel target genes for precise identification of live bacteria, these
technologies significantly enhance detection capabilities and accuracy for
microbial contamination. Additionally, a high-throughput screening and
confirmation technology platform for coloring agents in food has been
developed, ensuring food safety and compliance.
Application: Weigang's roof-packed fresh milk, roof-packed flavored
fermented milk, and fresh cup dairy products
8. 8. Name: Targeted Screening of Probiotics and Key Technology for
Room-Temperature Encapsulation and Stabilization
Overview: Overcoming the challenges of probiotics' heat intolerance and
inability to survive long-term in high-water activity environments, this
innovation created the industry's first commercial equipment for probiotic
encapsulation microspheres. Based on multi-models simulating human intestinal
and oral flora for targeted screening, it developed new strains from infants
with functions such as regulating intestinal flora, supporting weight
management, and maintaining oral health. Simultaneously, a new detection method
for encapsulated strains was established, enabling widespread application of
domestic strains in Chinese dairy products.
Application: Yili High-Activity Probiotic Products
9. 9. Name: Key Technologies for Efficient Dairy Farming Using
Natural Active Substances to Improve Cow Health
Overview: Focusing on core issues in dairy farming, this innovation
transcends traditional farming techniques by utilizing natural active
substances to effectively enhance cows' immunity, reduce disease incidence, and
significantly improve cows' production performance and milk quality. This
successful application brings revolutionary change to the dairy farming
industry, achieving dual enhancements in cow health and farming efficiency, and
providing strong support for green and sustainable livestock development.
Application: Modern Dairy Farms in Inner Mongolia, Western,
Northeastern, Northern, and Central China Regions
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
These technological advancements underscore the dynamic
evolution and commitment to excellence within China's dairy industry,
contributing to healthier consumers and more resilient agricultural ecosystems
globally.
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