2024 May Board Book

2024 - 2028 CDRF Strategic Plan

The IMGC’s mission is to provide a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, pre-competitive platform for scientific discoveries of the structures, functions, actions, and benefits of milk and facilitating the translation of this knowledge into practice for health. It hosts an Annual Symposium, offers Roll Up Your Sleeves (ROS) workshop focused on specific areas of food science interest and provides a forum for dairy food scientists to connect and collaborate. The CDQAP’s mission is to promote the health of consumers, the health of the environment, and the health and welfare of dairy animals through educational workshops, timely information sharing, and assistance to dairy producers focusing on the components of public health (farm security and food safety), animal care, and environmental stewardship. It utilizes its unique public-private partnership to provide “one-stop-shopping” style curriculum that are regulatorily accurate and stakeholder friendly. FOCUS AREA: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY Industry Challenge: The long-term sustainability of the industry is dependent on its ability to adapt to changing consumer needs; continually improving, innovating, and adopting new practices. New technologies and practices often require evaluation under California operating conditions. Innovations around animal care, manure handling and management, and crop management represent current areas of attention. Additional opportunities will continue to arise, especially with the upsurge of interest around robotics and A.I. within the agricultural sector. Producers, processors, and other allied industry stakeholders rely on rigorous scientific and economic evaluations to make informed business decisions regarding potential implementation. Focus: • Animal care: cow milking, cooling and feeding, group housing • Manure handling and management: nutrient removal, processing, and physical form • Crop management: crop type and growing systems

Approach: CDRF will seek to fund projects in areas of specific interest to the California dairy industry. To accomplish this, CDRF will use directed calls for projects after discussions with stakeholders including CMAB, relevant processors, and research institutions.

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