FrieslandCampina joins forces with United Dairymen of Arizona to respond to growing lactoferrin demands

02 Oct 2019 --- FrieslandCampina is partnering with US-based dairy cooperative United Dairymen of Arizona (UDA) to bring lactoferrin, a natural milk glycoprotein ingredient, to the market. The partnership, which is a response to increasing consumer demand, will have the capacity to produce 10 tons of lactoferrin annually. Both companies see this as an opportunity for further collaboration. The protein is naturally found in both cow’s milk and human milk and is a specialty ingredient in early life nutrition. FrieslandCampina expects to announce further lactoferrin capacity expansion plans soon.

“The global market of infant nutrition is still growing and we see that the demand for more natural, innovative and sustainable solutions is increasing. This is one of the reasons FrieslandCampina Ingredients anticipates further growth in the organic category within early life nutrition,” Anne Peter Lindeboom, Managing Director Early Life Nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, tells NutritionInsight.

Lactoferrin is a critical ingredient for FrieslandCampina’s Early Life Nutrition business. “The demand for lactoferrin is increasing globally and given the growth of the early life nutrition category we expect this demand to even further increase,” Lindeboom continues.

Lactoferrin is a component of the immune system and has microbial activity. This is especially important in human infants, who have antibacterial activity provided to them by lactoferrin. According to FrieslandCampina, a number of studies have shown several potential health benefits of lactoferrin, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity.

Lactoferrin is naturally found in both cow’s milk and human milk and is a specialty ingredient in early life nutrition. (Source: FrieslandCampina)“The new partnership will bring together the common values, history and structure of our companies, and will fit our strategic ambitions on lactoferrin. Our technology and extensive experience, combined with the high-quality milk of UDA, will ensure a product that meets global quality – and regulatory requirements for early life nutrition,” says Kathy Fortmann, President of FrieslandCampina Ingredients. 

“If it wasn’t for our farmers’ commitment to animal care, we wouldn’t get such high-quality milk,” explains Keith Murfield, CEO of UDA. UDA dairy farms have a longstanding reputation for a consistent milk supply that will benefit the new joint venture for years to come, says FrieslandCampina.

The concentration of lactoferrin in human milk is five to ten times higher than in bovine milk. It is the second most abundant protein in human colostrum and represents 10 percent of the protein in mother’s milk. Lactoferrin has a very high affinity for iron. In its natural state, it is only partially saturated with iron (15-20 percent for bovine lactoferrin, 4-5 percent for human lactoferrin) and has a pink color due to bound iron. 

Earlier this year, Breanna Caton, Marketing Manager at Maxum Foods, told NutritionInsight that she expects the niche dairy market to continue to take off in 2020. “The niche dairy market involves ingredients like lactoferrin, which is used in products such as infant formula and personal care and cosmetic products.” 

Last year, Ingredia launched Proferrin, a native lactoferrin derived from French cows’ milk. According to the company, its expertise in cutting-edge separation techniques allows it to ensure that Proferrin features the highest purity on the market, with more than 96 percent of lactoferrin on total proteins. Proferrin aims to help people reinforce their immune systems, such as children, pregnant women, athletes and the aging population.

By Katherine Durrell