Dr Theo Ockhuizen of IDS Wageningen
'The International Dairy School Wageningen is the outpost of the Dutch dairy sector in Wageningen. We are working in IDS on an integrated approach of the dairy chain and thus constitute the interface between research, training/education and the dairy industry.'
Says Dr Theo Ockhuizen, who is shaping this outpost of the Dutch Dairy Association (NZO) together with Vera Mentzel. In his office, close to the administrative centre of the university, he posits that IDS Wageningen took off last year with the objective of realizing a better fit of university education and research with the needs of the dairy sector. At the same time, IDS Wageningen passes the knowledge acquired in Wageningen and its environment (Food Valley) to the Dutch dairy industry.
Demand-driven Ockhuizen
The Dutch dairy industry is facing great challenges. You might think of changes in the economic and political relations on a European and a world level. Companies are active in the new EU countries, in which they attempt to put farm milk on a higher level. Reform of European dairy policies results in scale-up in dairy farming – a scale-up that has been going on for years in the dairy industry. We conclude that, because of these developments, there is a growing need in the dairy industry for people with expertise and skills pertaining to the entire dairy chain.’ Therefore, IDS Wageningen and Wageningen University have jointly developed the MSc programme ‘Dairy Science & Technology’, which took off in September 2005. ‘In doing this we responded to the needs of both the dairy industry and Wageningen University. The training integrates all essential elements of the dairy chain. This is an approach quite different from the time, in 1918, when dairy science education started in Wageningen – a curriculum predominantly focused on dairy production and dairy technology. For this new programme we see Europe as our home market because the Dutch industry is primarily active on that market. The next step will be to recruit students from those parts of the world in which the Dutch dairy industry is commercially active.’ Ockhuizen adds passionately: ‘We have the ambition to create the best university dairy education of the world.
Better coordination
IDS Wageningen coordinates for NZO collective research in Food Valley (the regional innovative motor of the Dutch food industry). ‘With all due deference, we could also talk about Dairy Valley. Dairy research and training are concentrated here on a modest surface. Obviously, Wageningen University is dominant in education. Research is shaped by Wageningen University, within WCFS, in which the dairy sector takes a prominent position, as well as by the Netherlands Controlling Authority for Milk and Milk Products (COKZ) and NIZO Food Research. The dairy industry, notably Campina, Friesland Foods and Numico, has established here important research departments.’ This is how Ockhuizen describes the current situation. The presence of IDS Wageningen in the centre of innovation and research provides the dairy sector with better coordination and feedback regarding its concerted outsourced research.
Knowledge transfer
Acquisition of knowledge is one aspect of research. Just as important is transfer of knowledge to the dairy sector. Ockhuizen: ‘That is the third major function of IDS Wageningen. We are continually engaged in giving feedback on the latest developments in research to the sector. That is essential for retaining and expanding the lead of the Dutch dairy industry on its competitors. Rapid and adequate exchange of information is an important precondition.’ NZO has laid solid foundations in Food Valley. The issue is now to maintain adequately the newly built house. Ockhuizen: ‘The new MSc programme has met with a lot of enthusiasm. In spite of the brief time left for preparation, we recruited 14 students who are following this curriculum. Three of them study on the basis of an IDS scholarship. I anticipate that the independent committee entrusted with granting these scholarships will be allowed six scholarships in the next year.’ There is more. The presence of IDS Wageningen in Food Valley is of great advantage to NZO. Ockhuizen presents two recent examples. IDS was involved substantively in the successful application for subsidies for the project ‘Melk op Maat’ [Milk to Size]. This project is part of an earlier initiative of the dairy sector and Wageningen University for research into the genetic basis of milk production. The second example is the initiative of Wageningen University and IDS Wageningen to apply for a sizeable subsidy from the EU for research on bioactive peptides from milk, jointly with 28 partners in Europe. Ockhuizen: ‘Briefly, IDS Wageningen already has proven added value for the Dutch dairy sector.’
Article from India Dossier, ZuivelZicht - 28 februari 2006  |