Four dairy and government entities have formed the National Dairy Research Program (NDRP), billed as a “significant step forward” to coordinate and leverage research involving future dairy products and ingredients. NDRP sponsors include Dairy Management Inc., the National Dairy Council, the USDA-Agricultural Research Service and the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Program. Said Dairy Management’s Dr. Gregory Miller, executive vice president of research, regulatory and scientific affairs, “The NDRP will allow collaborative research that will provide new products and processes, addressing the overall health and wellness of the consumer while at the same time, reducing redundancies [between research programs] and creating efficiencies.” Officials say 2009 R&D priorities include consumer demand-driven dairy foods, longer-life dairy products, milk components as enhancers of nutrition and health, enhanced health and functional products (developed via “bioprocessing”) and dairy food safety.