2024 May Board Book

2024 - 2028 CDRF Strategic Plan

CDRF will reserve an annual allocation for relevant research activities around animal health, biosecurity and/or food safety. Efforts in this area will be driven by industry need and will be fulfilled primarily through targeted subject-matter research.

FOCUS AREA: INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH Industry Challenge : The success of the industry is largely dependent upon the capability of its human resources. Specific dairy education and skillsets are essential for both on-farm and allied industry jobs. Furthermore, it is imperative for the industry to maintain access to research expertise related to dairy practices and products. Projects and collaborations aimed at providing continued and hands-on training to food and dairy scientists, dairy producers, support representatives and others will remain crucial in strengthening the industry’s workforce and overall health. Focus: CDRF will focus effort in areas to support improved milk utilization as well as on-farm environmental management and social license issues. Improved milk utilization: • Unique milk attributes • Milk ingredients and co-products • Dairy food matrix On-farm environmental management and social license issues: • New and changing water quality and quantity regulations • Advanced manure management practices • Irrigation efficiency • Animal care practices Approach: CDRF will continue to fund projects that provide important skills to food and nutrition scientists, dairy producers, support-industry representatives, and other stakeholders that are not otherwise available via free market channels. Educational outreach will be provided through multiple channels as appropriate, and CDRF will continue to utilize the International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC) and California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) programs as cornerstone efforts in the nutrition and environmental management areas, respectively. CDRF was instrumental in the organization and development of both programs. • Farm security • Mental health

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