Benefits of being affiliated with the Dairy Center
In the spring of 1996, an independent consulting firm working with Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) surveyed a large number of individuals from the dairy foods industry. The survey included a number of people representing industry organizations that were affiliated with one or more of the six University-based Dairy Foods Research Centers.
The top five reasons given for the benefits of industry affiliation with a Dairy Foods Research Center were:
|
|
·
|
An opportunity to influence the direction of dairy foods research
|
|
|
·
|
Getting ahead of the information curve
|
|
|
·
|
Establishing relationships within the dairy industry
|
|
|
·
|
Assisting the dairy foods industry as a whole
|
|
|
·
|
Developing relationships with dairy foods researchers at Universities
|
What the membership means to your organization
The University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University have over 25 faculty involved in dairy foods research. Their particular strengths are in the areas of dairy foods chemistry, microbiology, processing technology, and quality improvement. By joining the Center and providing financial support you can expect:
|
|
·
|
Interaction with faculty researchers at the Annual Meeting and on other occasions
|
|
|
·
|
Opportunities to express industry needs and to influence research priorities
|
|
|
·
|
Potential development of collaborative research projects
|
|
|
·
|
Written progress reports on ongoing and completed Center research projects
|
|
|
·
|
Opportunities for reviewing and improving University research proposals
|
|
|
·
|
Invitations to attend Center-sponsored conferences at no charge
|
|
|
·
|
Acknowledgement of your sponsorship of the Center and its research programs
|
How to become an industry member
|
1.
|
Sponsor a dairy-related project with a faculty member within the Center
|
|
|
The research project is governed by a contractual agreement between the University and the sponsoring organization. The yearly amount of a project will vary considerably, with a typical annual commitment being approximately $40,000. This level of support is given to projects other than those funded by DMI, and such independent sponsorship allows your organization to name an individual to the Center’s Operational Advisory Committee.
|
|
2.
|
Subscribe as an annual member of the Center
|
|
|
There is no contract or formal process; merely a letter expressing your organization’s intent to participate. The $5,000 annual fee may be invoiced at the time of your choice during the year. At any time support of the Center may be terminated or converted to sponsorship of an individual project. Organizational support may be directed to the University of Minnesota or to South Dakota State University.
|
For more information contact:
Lloyd E. Metzger, Director
MN-SD Dairy Foods Research Center
University of Minnesota
Department of Food Science and Nutrition
1334 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
Ph: 612.624.7786
Fax: 612.625.5272
Email: lmetzger@umn.edu
