Six Polish natural science universities will conduct research to support the dairy sector in innovative and safe production. The Ministry of Education and Science (MEiN) will allocate PLN 100 million for the pilot programme. A letter of intent in this regard was signed by Minister of Education and Science Przemysław Czarnek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Rafał Romanowski, presidents of dairy cooperatives and university rectors.

The main objective of the pilot programme ‘Science for agri-food processing’ is to conduct scientific research to support the dairy sector in terms of innovative and safe production, while maintaining good environmental practices in the aspect of progressive climate change. According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the initiative involves close cooperation between dairy cooperatives and natural science universities.

“The world of science enters into direct cooperation with the world of business including PhDs, apprenticeships as well as also training of employees from these companies in universities. We want to create new technological lines that will be tested in enterprises, we want large-scale scientific research to make this product, which is later processed and from which we create excellent food, yoghurts, cheeses and others, really even tastier, even healthier and cheaper”, says the Minister of Education and Science.

Six universities participating in the project include University of Life Sciences in Lublin, University of Life Sciences in Wrocław, Hugo Kołłątaj Agricultural University in Kraków, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, University of Life Sciences in Poznań and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Each one will receive a grant of PLN 16 120 000, with the University of Life Sciences in Lublin receiving as the leader – PLN 19 400 000. In total, the universities will obtain PLN 100 million for research over five years.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński