DIAL opens expanded research facility

Dairy Innovation Australia Limited (DIAL) has officially opened its expanded national headquarters in Werribee.

The site includes state-of-the-art research laboratories, a manufacturing pilot plant, food technology laboratories, a sensory laboratory and culture production and meeting facilities.

The expanded facility will promote industry growth and help secure the long-term future of dairy manufacturing in Australia, DIAL Chairman Peter Boyden said.

“Our expanded site will enable us to provide knowledge, capability and critical services to the industry as well as create opportunities to assist member companies achieve growth in markets in Australia and overseas,” Boyden said.

DIAL member companies represent 70% of Australia’s milk production and their investment drives research and innovation in areas crucial to dairy manufacturing.

“Our projects have led to improvements in product quality and consistency across the industry, improvements in sustainable dairy processing technologies and added value for domestic and export dairy markets,” said DIAL CEO Dr Lesley MacLeod.

“DIAL is among the few organisations in the world dedicated to dairy research, led and funded by industry. We have an extensive network of partnerships within the Australian and the wider international research community, providing a vital hub for innovation and research.”

DIAL was recently awarded major federal government funding for its Dairy Innovation Hub project from the new ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program.