2024 May Board Book

2024 - 2028 CDRF Strategic Plan

With input from the ESTAC, CDRF will monitor and assimilate existing science as part of its high-level comprehensive research plan. Through this process it will identify current scientific information available as well as areas of unanswered questions/gaps in knowledge. CDRF funding will be prioritized to projects that fill these recognized scientific knowledge gaps of defined interest and need. It will seek to leverage producer funds with other funding organization dollars wherever environmental research interests align. CDRF will continue to work with existing environmentally focused partners: CDQAP (extension and education to dairy farmers and allied industry); Dairy Cares (policy maker and processor dialogue); and UC Davis (applied research). It will also seek to communicate and collaborate with other entities working in the space such as the California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (CDFA OEFI), California Air Resources Board (CARB), USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA NRCS), US Dairy Innovation Center, Newtrient, and others. FOCUS AREA: FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION AND HEALTH Industry Challenge : The dairy industry is in the fortunate position of having a fundamentally high-nutritional value product with a strong tradition of being part of a balanced diet. However, this position continues to be progressively challenged through health concerns surrounding allergies, saturated fats, and lactose intolerance. There is an ever-expanding range of dairy substitutes and dietary trends (e.g., veganism, paleo) that are placing increasing demand related concerns on the industry. The dairy industry must maintain awareness of scientific information emerging from relevant research, as well as combat misinformation and disinformation that may impact confidence in dairy foods. With the best evidence-based nutrition and health information available, the industry can then formulate its marketing strategies (products and promotion) accordingly. In some areas, it may benefit the industry to invest in new research that either refutes inaccurate public sentiment around dairy intake and/or investigates and validates new human health benefits. Focus: CDRF will develop, fund, and manage projects focused on food science (e.g., laboratory studies on food composition) and nutrition and health (e.g., human-focused studies on dietary intake) that improve consumer confidence and dairy product demand. Priority will be placed on projects which receive co-funding and have special interest for the California dairy industry.

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