Download Friesland Foods working with consortium to develop new proteins

Friesland Foods working with consortium to develop new proteins
for boosting immune system
2nd of July 2008
Joint development of functional ingredients
Friesland Foods, Lactive and Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR are jointly
researching new proteins that play a part in boosting the immune system.
Friesland Foods Domo’s expertise in the field of milk and whey proteins and a technology
developed by Lactive for purifying milk proteins and giving them a specific health effect is
being combined with the knowledge of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR. The
aim of this collaboration is to develop a new range of resistance-boosting food ingredients
that can be used in foodstuffs and infant food.
This co-operation has come about thanks to grants, including one under the Ministry of
Economic Affairs’ innovation programme ‘Peaks in the Delta’. This programme is designed to
promote area-specific economic development by taking advantage of opportunities and
breaking down barriers. The area-specific programme in the east of the Netherlands focuses
on enhancing knowledge concentrations in the areas of Food, Nutrition, Health and
Technology.
Roelof Joosten, managing director of Friesland Foods Domo: ‘The role of foodstuffs is
changing and ingredients in food will increasingly have a health-promoting effect. With its
current products and innovations, Friesland Foods Domo is actively responding to today’s key
trend, namely the importance of maintaining or achieving good resistance against disease.
We are monitoring scientific developments very closely, and together with our customers, are
on the lookout for possible applications in their products. The collaboration between these
three parties matches our strategy perfectly, which is to develop and sell innovative functional
ingredients.’
Lactive’s CEO Willem Fokkema is pleased that the knowledge acquired by start-up Lactive is
being applied in concrete product applications so quickly. ‘Friesland Foods Domo is one of
the world’s largest producers of dairy ingredients. It’s wonderful that we can work with them to
develop nutritional products that can help improve the protection of young children in the first
years of their lives. The Animal Sciences Group will be conducting independent scientific
studies to assess the efficacy of our ingredients. I regard that as an important step on the way
to development and commercialisation.’
Ruud Duijghuisen, Business Development Manager of the Animal Sciences Group research
institute of Wageningen UR: ‘Healthy food is one of the most crucial issues in today’s market.
As a knowledge institute, we are glad to be able to contribute towards this with our knowledge
of influencing the composition of base materials such as milk or using models to underpin the
health claims for foodstuffs. As is the case with this project, our preference is to achieve this
together with industrial partners so that knowledge makes a real contribution to the
development of new foodstuffs.’
Friesland Foods Domo develops, produces and markets high-quality milk- and whey based
ingredients for (infant) food and pharmaceutical industries all over the world. Friesland Foods
Domo has production sites in Bedum, Borculo, Dronrijp and Workum (the Netherlands), sales
offices in Zwolle (the Netherlands), Malaysia, the UK and the USA and a global network of
representatives and distributors. Friesland Foods Domo is a subsidiary of Royal Friesland
Foods.
Lactive was established in 2005 with the aim of developing technology for using the health
properties of the small protein fractions in milk to maximum advantage. These techniques are
then licensed to companies for large-scale production and marketing. In addition to
developing its own technology, Lactive also conducts contract research for various
enterprises and organisations.
The Animal Sciences Group (ASG), part of Wageningen UR, focuses on developing and
applying knowledge to sustainable and profitable solutions for the dairy farming industry.
ASG’s aim in the food industry is to contribute to the development of safe, sustainably
produced and healthy products.
For more information:
Rob van Dongen
Corporate Communication
Friesland Foods
Tel: +31 (0) 522 276 334
Willem Fokkema
CEO
Lactive BV
Tel: +31 (0) 6 28 724 788
Ruud Duijghuisen
Business Development Manager
Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen UR
Tel: +31 (0) 320-238246