Hosted by Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), CheeseExpo announced its Explore Opening Keynote on Wednesday, April 17. In Sustainability: The FrieslandCampina Story, Sumeet Mathur, Managing Director of FrieslandCampina Consumer Dairy Americas, shares the Dutch cooperative’s learnings at the cutting edge of dairy sustainability. Mathur currently leads the FrieslandCampina business for North America and Latin America following years of dairy industry experience including strategic roles with Nestlé in India, Switzerland, and Indonesia.  

 Then, choose from one of three concurrent seminars later on Wednesday morning: 

• Continue the keynote conversation in Dairy Sustainability through the Supply Chain.  A panel talk, led by Dr. Michel Wattiaux, University of Wisconsin Professor of Dairy Systems Management, details industry leaders’ efforts – from farm to table – to meet “must-do” metrics for a lower carbon footprint and the expectations of their customers. 
• CDR offers the latest in dairy research and technology with a technical session focused on Cheese Functionality and Performance. In this technical session, CDR’s top-notch team details new research into the functionality of low moisture part skim mozzarella, blister formation, the impact of anti-caking agents for shredded cheese performance, and controlling functionality when using concentrated milks. 
• Hear directly from elected leaders in Policy Leadership and the 2024 Election. This lively panel discussion, brought to you by WCMA, focuses on the hottest topics of the day: Farm Bill funding, food labeling enforcement, immigration reform, nutrition programs, a state-level trend to legalize raw milk sales, and much more. 

 On Thursday, April 18, dive into a fresh slate of educational experiences with four more seminar options: 

• Lead your business into the future with a special session focused on Building Your Workforce on an ESG Foundation. Join Jim Link, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Society for Human Resources Management, for a deep dive into the needs and wants of your essential team - and strategies to make the most of your ESG efforts when it comes to workforce attraction and retention, too.  
• Join CDR and academic partners from the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a technical session on the Impact of Dairy on Human Health. This insightful offering features the latest research on bioactive peptides and decreasing high blood pressure in humans, the potential impact of biogenic amines, and addressing issues with clinical lipid nutrition. 
• Discover how dairy could play a role in the emerging bioeconomy with a technical deep dive on Whey Permeate Utilization. In this session, CDR scientists will share new perspectives on transforming dairy coproducts like permeate or acid whey into value-added materials with endless potential for new applications, such as bioplastics and fermentation. 
• Our trusted partners at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy bring us Food Safety Information for Dairy Processors.  Talks will focus on best practices, including advanced root cause analysis using whole genome sequencing and the latest research into Listeria prevention. 

“This one-of-a-kind event is a hub for meaningful connection and a thoughtful exchange of ideas, all tailored to the dairy processing industry,” said Judy Keller, WCMA’s Senior Director of Events. “Whether you're looking for innovative products, fresh perspectives, or a broader network – if it’s important to you, you’ll find it at CheeseExpo!”