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Dairy Innovation Competition helping build industry’s next generation workforce

The coordinator of the dairy checkoff’s New Product Competition says it’s a way to develop the industry’s future workforce.

Rohit Kapoor with Dairy Management Inc. says students have access to real-world product development.

“It teaches them the technical and commercial aspects of taking a dairy product from a concept to the consumer,” he says. “Beyond that, it also teaches them teamwork, leadership, and many of these students actually end up in the industry.”

He tells Brownfield several products developed through the competition have been considered for commercialization.

“Our competition has always focused on highlighting the taste and functional versatility of dairy products and ingredients,” he says. “The judges really look at the teams and the products that go beyond the traditional milk, cheese, and yogurt.”

Kapoor says students from six universities were awarded a total of $27,000 during the American Dairy Science Association’s Annual Meeting in June.

AUDIO: Rohit Kapoor, Dairy Management Inc.