US dairy co-op Land O\u2019Lakes has announced a strategic investment in its Tulare, California, dairy processing facility to expand capabilities into \u201chigh-value dairy protein production\u201d.<\/p>\n
The farmer-owned co-op says the move will help it meet the rapidly growing global demand for protein-rich nutrition, while also creating new opportunities for its farmer-owners.<\/p>\n
It adds that the investment will enable production of ultra-filtered milk, \u201cunlocking greater value from member milk, providing growth opportunities for farmer-owners and strengthening Land O\u2019Lakes\u2019 ability to compete in a changing food landscape increasingly centred on protein\u201d.<\/p>\n
Heather Anfang, executive vice-president of Land O\u2019Lakes and president of dairy foods, said; \u201cAt a time when protein is reshaping how consumers eat and how the food system operates, this investment positions Land O\u2019Lakes, our Tulare facility and our farmer-owners to lead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are continuing to build a more resilient, growth-oriented dairy business while creating new demand for member milk and laying the groundwork for long-term opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Protein has moved beyond a niche health category to become a defining force in how consumers evaluate food, the co-op says, with rising nutritional awareness and new health trends such as appetite-reduction medications shifting how and what people eat.<\/p>\n