A formula for food security

Food safety specialist Fortress Technology analyses the dairy industry’s role in enhancing global food security through sustainable production, particularly in the rapidly expanding global milk powder market.

In a new whitepaper recently published by food inspection and contaminant detection specialist Fortress Technology, the company, which has manufacturing hubs in the UK/Europe, North and South America, and now New Zealand, reviews the environmental benefits of sharing best practice in the expanding global Whole and Skim Milk Powder market. Sales Director Phil Brown specifically underscores the importance of implementing consistent quality control and contaminant inspection standards internationally to protect consumers and reduce processing emissions.

DOWN THE DRAIN

According to the Sustainable Food Trust, the United Kingdom wastes approximately 490 million pints of milk per year. Putting this into context, in liquid form this amount of milk would fill more than 122 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Making milk among the top 5 most wasted food products in the UK.

Aside from good product loss, milk waste dramatically impacts the environment as one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases. With a carbon footprint of around 1.1kg CO2 per litre, the amount of milk the UK produces and subsequently wastes in a year equates to 3.3 million tonnes of CO2.

While one of the most common causes of the UK’s food waste habits can be attributed to a general misunderstanding of expiration date labels, consumers are not the only ones responsible for this excessive waste.

SUPPLY VERSUS DEMAND

Dairy cows require daily milking. Any oversupply often leads to dairy farmers disposing of milk before it is even processed. With the UK and Europe lifting defined milk quotas on 31 March 2015, milk lakes and butter mountains are a thing of the past. It means that there are now no production limits.

Unfortunately, many of the leading causes of food waste are beyond the control of farmers. Climatic events, supply chain unfairness and labour shortages, all contribute to food waste and surplus. With milking accounting for between 31% and 57% of labour time spent on dairy farms[1], plus the slim margin on milk and its short shelf-life, any small hit to the labour market can have detrimental effects on dairy production.

In 2021, Sky News reported British dairy farmers having to pour tens of thousands of litres of milk away due to a shortage of HGV and milk tanker drivers. One fourth-generation dairy farmer was forced to dump 40,000 litres of milk after no drivers turned up to collect it.[2]

Research has also suggested that half of UK dairy farms are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit staff. They attribute much of the blame to the loss of EU workers following Brexit, worsened by the pandemic, and resulting in a 12.2% vacancy rate.[3]

FOOD WASTE REDUCTION TARGETS

When production continues to outstrip demand, it leads to a surplus of perishable agricultural goods that contribute significantly to our global food waste issue. It is clear that today’s industrial agricultural and food production methods are severely damaging the environment and are not sustainable with the growing global population. Whole Milk Powder and Skimmed Milk Powder, along with other dairy by-product commodities could potentially provide a more sustainable solution.

With an escalating demand in pre-prepared foods, baby foods and infant formula, as well as new vitamin-fortified milk powders entering the market for direct use in beverages, yoghurts, coffee and tea whitener, milk powders have seen a significant rise in popularity worldwide.

The global market outlook is strong, with milk powder valued at 34.6 billion US$ in 2023 and predicted to grow annually by 5.6 percent, reaching 57.2 US$ billion by 2032.[4]

GOING GREENER

Sustainable production, processing, transportation and consumption of dairy products is essential to

protecting the planet and achieving sustainability goals. It is also exported widely to developing economies where fresh milk is in limited supply.

Aside from decreasing milk dumping, the longer shelf life of milk powders means that less milk is wasted, helping reduce food waste and conserve resources. One of the most significant environmental benefits of milk powders for food manufacturers is its compactness and reduced weight.

Around 225 litres of fresh milk is needed to produce 3.75 litres of non-fat milk powder, meaning about 60 times less space is required to transport the same amount of milk solids in powder form. Additionally, utilising milk powders in place of fresh milk eradicates the requirement for cold storage. By transporting milk product more efficiently, using less fuel and producing fewer emissions, food manufacturers can reduce their carbon footprint and help to mitigate climate change.

MAINTAINING SUSTAINABLE FOOD SAFETY

Adopting more environmentally friendly methods of dairy production can aid the mission to a greener future. In New Zealand, new technology has been employed to reuse water from the condensation process involved in the production of milk powder. The ‘reclaimed’ water system is expected to save half a million litres of groundwater daily.

Additionally, one of the most sustainable methods of reducing waste is implementing inspection technology into milk powder production lines. Metal detection, X-ray and check weighing systems help dairy processors address critical waste, sourcing and sustainability challenges by targeting operational inefficiencies, including upstream product giveaway, non-conforming food packs and packaging and contamination issues.

The world’s largest producer of Whole Milk Powder located in New Zealand recently updated 56 of their Fortress metal detectors to Stealth technology. By adding data logging capabilities and new software algorithms, this processor increased the stainless steel detection sensitivity to 2mm.

“The cycle of parts breaking down, being thrown away and then having to be replaced is not just wasteful, it’s also unsustainable long term,” cautions Phil. The ability to upgrade existing inspection equipment, designed with modularity and scalability in mind, contributes to a more sustainable industry.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

With the global milk powder market set to increase in value dramatically over the next 10 years, and with dairy farms targeting optimised productivity, further waste reduction efforts are not just necessary but imperative.

Industrialisation of farming practices combined with the rapid expansion of the global population, and its subsequent demands, has intensified the production of food and food safety pressures. As the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of WMP and SMP, with their dairy farming predominantly pasture-based and underpinned by an ambitious ‘green revolution,’ New Zealand provides a strong model of sustainable, safe food processing.

Fortress aims to leverage this localized processing knowledge and best practices to respond to evolving food trends and the overarching need for sustainable production processes.

https://fortresstechnology.co.uk/milk-powder-quality-control-and-sustainability/