The southeast dairy business innovation initiative (sdbii) will continue to provide support to the dairy industry across 12 southeast states (alabama, arkansas, florida, georgia, kentucky,…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a $7,053,333 three-year Project Grant to the University of Tennessee to support the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII). The SDBII, operating under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (CFDA #10.176) federal grant program, aims to provide technical assistance, education, and sub-awards to value-added dairy producers in 12 southeastern states.

Through the grant period of September 30, 2022 to September 30, 2025, the University of Tennessee will focus efforts on food safety/product innovation and marketing/training for dairy businesses. This includes in-depth consumer and producer surveys, brand communication strategies, good manufacturing practice training, and facilities for research and outreach. Up to $138,547 in sub-awards were provided to two dairy farms for robotic milking equipment and feed handling upgrades to improve efficiency and animal welfare. Other sub-awards of up to $7,053,333 were provided to universities and dairy organizations for services including market research, producer education, and technical assistance to support business growth, product diversification, and increased sustainability of small and underserved dairy producers in the region.

The southeast dairy business innovation initiative (sdbii) will continue to provide support to the dairy industry across 12 southeast states (alabama, arkansas, florida, georgia, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, north carolina, south carolina, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia). In previous submissions, we have created a support network across 5 main focuses 1) understanding value added dairy opportunities, 2) dairy finances and decision support tools, 3) food safety and product innovation projects, 4) marketing and training tools, and 5) leadership and workforce development. This current application will focus on expanded and new initiatives around food safety and product innovation projects and marketing and training tools. This furthers our overarching goal of creating a holistic support system, benchmarks, and resources across all aspects of the dairy industry. Outcomes will include in depth surveys of consumers, producers, and processors. Developing innovative brand communication strategies. Providing a marketing branding tool kit for value added dairy producers. Implementing guides for brand development and direct to consumer marketing. Expanding raw milk and finished product quality testing laboratory to support research and outreach initiatives. Deriving dairy protein ingredients from bovine milk for alternative uses. Identifying potential technology to determine total acidity in cream and predict freezing point of dairy products. Determining potential for reverse osmosis of defatted milk to yield ICE cream base. Providing haacp, food safety, and IMS training and resources. Providing a competitive subaward program for southeast dairy businesses. Creating extension fact sheets, publications, decision tools, and video resources to aid value added dairy producers in their decision making.