DAIRY-PRODUCTS - THE NEXT-GENERATION - ALTERING THE IMAGE OF DAIRY-PRODUCTS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Nutritionally improved dairy products have proved to be very successfu l and have provided some growth in the industry. However, niche market s are becoming increasingly lucrative. Meeting the needs of consumers within those niche markets provides an opportunity for the expansion o f sales through the development of innovative dairy products. Dairy pr oducts as we have known them are evolving into the next generation of dairy products with new images, new functions, and new nutritional pos sibilities. Expansion of product sales and usage within niche markets require targeting the special needs and expectations of populations wi thin those markets by the use of innovative new technologies or altern ative uses of existing technologies for the development of new product s. Technologies that alter nutritional profile, develop new functional characteristics, isolate or amplify specific components, extend shelf -life, or increase versatility are currently available to the dairy in dustry. Liaisons between research and industry are imperative to promo te effective technology transfer and utilization of product and proces s technologies.