DAIRY+
Specific objective: SO 6 - Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
Typology: Standard project
The transition from linear production models to models linked to the circular economy is considered a common need at cross-border level and represents, at the same time, a great opportunity to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of strategic economic sectors, which in recent years have been affected by the pandemic crisis, the consequences of the international geopolitical situation and changes in market demand. EU policies, cascaded at national and then regional level, recognise the fundamental contribution of food systems towards sustainable development and the reduction of waste, through the recovery and reuse of by-products. In the cross-border area, the dairy value chain holds a very interesting potential for the circular valorisation of by-products, the most abundant of which is whey, which is currently partially used for animal feed or discarded, without envisaging higher added-value applications, with the consequent negative impacts on the environment.
- Aiming at pooling their complementary competences to develop and promote replicable shared models and solutions to support the development of a circular bioeconomy in the dairy supply chain.
- the green transition of the agrifood sector, favouring the recovery and re-use of by-products for value-added applications reducing waste and inefficiencies.
- Businesses in the dairy chain, sector agencies (local development, agri-food, health, environment), public authorities dealing with bio-economy and sustainable development,
- research and training institutions, and the cross-border community in general
- The need for cross-border cooperation and sustainable development of a circular bioeconomy in the value chain requires crossing borders, exploiting economies of scale and integrating complementary resources and skills available on both sides of the border.
A JOINT CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMME FOR OPERATORS
From whey to valuable resource: DAIRY+’s Manual of good practices
Whey is no longer simply a waste product. Rich in proteins, lactose and minerals, it can now be transformed into a valuable resource for use in food products, cosmetics and sustainable agriculture.
The first official manual developed as part of the research carried out through the DAIRY+ Project brings together knowledge, technologies and good practices for the valorisation of dairy by-products across the Italy–Slovenia cross-border area.
A practical resource designed for small-scale dairies, farms and dairy-sector operators looking to reduce waste, drive innovation and create added value.
Three webinars on the valorisation of dairy by-products in the milk supply chain
The Soča Valley Development Centre (LP) and the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana (PP3) organized three consecutive online educational workshops in April, aimed at everyone involved in or interested in milk processing and the use of by-products generated in the dairy industry.
The workshops focused on the challenges and opportunities of the dairy supply chain in the context of a circular economy, with a particular emphasis on the valorization of by-products from milk processing, especially whey and brine.
More than 50 participants from various farms, dairies, research institutions, and other organizations attended the sessions, which covered topics such as the specifics of milk processing on small farms, the economics of milk production, the use of whey as animal feed, regulatory requirements, by-products in milk processing, and good practices in managing whey and brine.
From whey to resource – training cycle for dairy supply chain operators
The processing of milk into cheese and other dairy products generates by-products – such as whey, buttermilk and brine – which, if properly managed, can become valuable resources for developing new products, reducing waste and creating economic and environmental value.
The goal of the training cycle was clear: to promote knowledge transfer between the scientific community, businesses and institutions, and to encourage a more sustainable and innovative approach to managing these by-products.
The series of meetings organized by Fondazione FABFVG in collaboration with Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Di4A-University of Udine and associate partner CEFAP consisted of four sessions, both in person and online, to ensure maximum accessibility for sector operators.
“AWARENESS-RAISING” EVENTS
DAIRY+ Event in San Donà – Sustainability in the Dairy Value Chain
On may 27 2025, the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), partner of the project DAIRY+, organized a meeting open to dairy producers, agri-food professionals, and anyone interested in innovation, sustainability, and safety in the dairy supply chain.
The agenda included:
Presentation of the DAIRY+ project and its partners
Upcoming training courses for sector professionals
Updates on the topic of STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli) in dairy products and by-products
Cross-border event “A more sustainable value chain economy for the dairy sector”
On June 24th, 2025 the awareness-raising event took place in Kobarid, as part of the DAIRY+ project.
The event, organised by the project partner Fondazione Agrifood & Bioeconomy FVG with the support of the Posoški razvojni center (PRC), brought together representatives from the dairy value chain in Friuli Venezia Giulia – including veterinarians, institutional representatives, and dairies – for a day of dialogue, learning, and inspiration.
The morning opened with a presentation by the Director of the Planika Dairy, who illustrated the company’s approach to sustainability and the enhancement of the local territory, followed by a product tasting.
During the day, participants visited the Planika Museum, the production facility and the Kašina mountain pastures. There, they met a local producer, visited the production spaces and tasted artisanal cheeses.
Entrepreneurial breakfast on agriculture in Kobarid
On March 12 2025, the Soča Valley Development Center organized the 6th Entrepreneurial Breakfast in Kobarid, focusing on agriculture. More than 50 participants attended the event, including local farmers, entrepreneurs, and representatives from various organizations. All demonstrated a strong willingness to collaborate and seek innovative solutions for the future of agriculture in the region. The event was co-organized as part of the Dairy+ project, with the Posočje Development Center acting as the lead partner.
Under the theme Opportunities for Agriculture in Posočje, attendees were introduced to the Dairy+ project and engaged with three key topics: prototypes of circular technological solutions, information on current agricultural funding opportunities, and insights from an innovative young farmer.
The event was an opportunity to hear expert presentations and a platform for networking and collaboration.
Study visit to two biotechnology companies in Slovenia
On May 7 2025, the second meeting of the cross-border stakeholder group was held, accompanied by a study visit to the Slovenian companies Arhel and ACIES BIO. During the visit, participants – including dairy sector operators – explored innovative technological solutions for whey treatment, aimed at extracting substances usable in human and animal nutrition, as well as in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors.
ARHEL offers innovative products enriched with functional and bioactive ingredients. It has developed a line of plant-based drinks enriched with proteins extracted from whey.
ACIES BIO works, among other things, on the development and scale-up of bioprocesses and the innovative transformation and valorisation of by-products.
Crossborder networking event in Tolmin
On 10 October 2025, we were in Tolmin, in the heart of the Soča Valley, to take part in one of the most authentic celebrations of Alpine dairy culture: Frika Fest, an event dedicated to cheese lovers, the tradition of alpine pasturing, and the symbolic return of shepherds from the mountain pastures.
The DAIRY+ project was a key participant in the event “Tradition and Branding for the Future: Communicating the Value of the Dairy Supply Chain and the Territory through Brands”, an event open to the public that provided an opportunity to reflect on:
the value of the dairy supply chain
the sustainability of mountain areas
the opportunities offered by whey
the importance of local brands in promoting innovation and identity
The event featured a rich programme of contributions from universities, institutions, consortia and local stakeholders from both Slovenia and Italy.
Networking dinner for Circular Thinkers
Wednesday, 20 November 2025, Palazzo Antonini-Stringher in Udine hosted the “Networking Dinner for Circular Thinkers”, bringing together Dairy+ and three European projects working in the field of the circular economy and biomass valorisation: NETTLE, iM Pack Project and VALOStones.
A convivial dinner designed to bring together open-minded people engaged in European projects that share a common goal – making the world a better place through the circular economy.
The following day, all participants reconvened at the Synergy Event organised by the Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A) of the University of Udine to explore together the opportunities for the valorisation of biomolecules for food and non-food applications.
Communicate innovation: when students design the strategy
Students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science and Culture at the University of Udine and the Food Science programme at the University of Ljubljana came together for a strategic co-design workshop organised by Fondazione Agrifood FVG as part of the DAIRY+ project.
The goal? To design a comprehensive communication strategy for two innovative products developed within the project: a spreadable cheese enriched with whey proteins and a probiotic yoghurt.
A journey combining communication theory, collaborative practice and strategic vision. Communicating innovation does not simply mean “telling the story of a product”, but building a narrative that speaks directly to the right people, at the right time, in the right language.
WATCH THE VIDEO CREATED BY THE STUDENTS
TWO DOCUMENTARIES TO TELL THE STORY OF THE DAIRY+ PROJECT: FROM TRADITION TO INNOVATION
Mountain pastures, guardians of the environment
Among the mountains of Italy and Slovenia, mountain pastures transcend borders to become guardians of a single, shared rural heritage. They are living testimonies to a deeply rooted cross-border culture that can now look to the future.
A compelling story showing how mountain pastures are essential as cradles of tradition and true pillars for the protection of the landscape and mountain biodiversity.
A compelling story showing how mountain pastures are essential as cradles of tradition and true pillars for the protection of the landscape and mountain biodiversity.
The DAIRY+ project believes in the power of storytelling and audiovisual production to convey these values, with a documentary that speaks to everyone: those who live in the mountains, those who love them, and those who want to understand how Alpine traditions can teach us important lessons about sustainability and coexistence.
DAIRY+, a circular bioeconomy for the dairy sector
A 16-minute journey into the DAIRY+ project, told by the people who built it: different voices explaining how they are transforming the dairy sector from within, bringing together researchers, specialists and industry professionals.
The video shows that innovation is not just theory: we visited two dairy plants, the Latteria Sociale di Cividale e Valli del Natisone (Italy) and Mlekarna Planika (Slovenia), to discover, together with the people who work there, how the innovation brought by the project can concretely improve the day-to-day operations, sustainability and competitiveness of a dairy plant.
