Scientific Research

Global Dairy Platform understands the importance of gaining greater insight and input into the global landscape of milk and dairy scientific research, as well as general industry research. GDP members gain access to that information through a database with pre-competitive scientific milk and dairy research. Keeping the information strictly confidential and available to members only, GDP offers ongoing updates on planned, ongoing and completed milk and dairy research in the areas of:

• Health and wellness
• Disease
• Comparative research worldwide

Not funding or conducting research itself, GDP will provide an overview and make recommendations for research activities, resulting in better coordination and less duplication. In addition, members can share best practises and identify areas that require further research.  GDP already has begun to develop and coordinate a major multi-centre research programme to determine the impact of consuming milk fat, among other initiatives.

These efforts will be guided by a GDP Communications and Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of leading independent professionals in nutrition research and communications. This expert panel also will identify research duplication and gaps, as well as counsel the organisation’s leadership on recommended fields of research.

GDP Scientific and Communication Advisory Board Members

• Prof. Arne Vernon Astrup of the Department of Human Nutrition, Centre for Advanced Food Studies, Royal Veterinary and Agriculture University in Copenhagen, Denmark, is an Executive Committee Member and Secretary of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.
• Mr. Cedric Boehm is the Business Manager of Chilled Dairy at Nestlé, where he is responsible for defining the global brand strategy and overseeing the long-term innovation pipeline.
• Prof. Suichi Kaminogawa of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Nihon University in Japan, who was awarded the prestigious International Dairy Federation Award in 2006, has published more than 350 research papers and books on milk, milk products and lactic bacteria.
• Prof. Frans Kok of the Wageningen University in The Netherlands, serves as Co-director of the European Nutrition Leadership Programme.
• Mr. Richard Lange, General Manager of Marketing for Dairy Australia, provides expert advice on marketing and communication strategies.
• Prof. Tom Sanders is Research Director of Nutrition and Dietetics at King’s College in London, England.
• Prof. Peter Van Bladeren, serves as Director of the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, one of the world’s leading research laboratories in food and nutritional sciences.