11 January 2024
The development of a new vaccine against brucellosis is one of the projects a state agency could be involved in through a new collaboration agreement with the organised dairy industry.
Milk SA, the umbrella organisation for the dairy industry, which includes the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) and the SA Milk Processors’ Organisation (Sampro) as its members, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Science and Innovation’s Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
Nico Fouché, CEO of Milk SA, said the collaboration would largely be about research technology and would include exploring opportunities to support black entrepreneurs in the industry.
Milk SA research projects in which the agency could be involved through funding, according to him, will have a significant impact at the farm level but will benefit the entire value chain.
An important project from the University of Pretoria (UP) involves developing a new vaccine against brucellosis. Milk SA has approved it but funding has been lacking. Fouché says there is a good possibility that the TIA will contribute financially.
Reasons for the need for a new vaccine include the drawbacks associated with the brucellosis vaccines currently available, such as antibiotic resistance, high abortion rates and sterility in bulls.
“New technology now exists to develop safer and more effective vaccines,” according to the project plan.
Other research
Milk SA’s existing research projects in which the agency could be involved through co-funding include:
- The development of a probiotic yoghurt that can prevent candidiasis, listeriosis and diarrhoea (research by UP).
- A feasibility analysis of treating wastewater on dairy farms biologically at low cost (Institute of Natural Resources).
- The application of the system dynamics model to determine and compare the relative environmental footprint of dairy products and simulated products in the dairy industry (ASSET Research, a non-profit organisation).
- The impact of the application of good agricultural practices on the dairy industry (Dairy Standard Agency).
- The use of near-infrared technology to detect and measure mastitis bacteria in milk (University of KwaZulu-Natal).
Fouché says the agency and Milk SA will generally contribute jointly to research projects. Percentages and thresholds will depend on annual project plans.
Technology essential
The two organisations said in a statement that South Africa has one of the most effective and competitive dairy industries in the world. It operates in a free-market environment, unlike most of its international trading competitors who receive state support.
“The number of dairy farms and processors of dairy products continues to decline, especially since deregulation in 1997, but the industry manages to supply enough raw milk and dairy products of high quality to consumers,” said the statement.
Dr Heinz Messner, research and development manager at Milk SA, says it considers the relationship with the agency important.
“Technology development and innovation are essential in a competitive environment where there are small profit margins,” he said. “We expect that the relationship will provide increasing opportunities to realise such innovation while maintaining sustainability.”
Dr Vuyisile Phehane, executive for bio-economy at the TIA, described the signing of the memorandum as a historic moment and said it ensures the exchange of expertise on further support for Milk SA’s transformation agenda.
