In 2009, the researchers of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies were looked up by the representatives of the Latvian milk processing and cheese manufacturing company “Smiltenes Piens”. Because of the increased processed cheese amount in the factory, the amount of the by-product - the curd whey also increased and now the company was facing challenges with cheese and curd whey processing, explained the company representatives.
In order to get information on possible curd whey processing methods specialists from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies were asked to help with the research of the processing process. This led researchers to the idea of filtration of cheese and curd whey. The specialists of the university assisted after the realization of the project in order to understand the peculiarities of the product obtained during the process and its possible marketing opportunities.
Partly on the basis of the research done by the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies professionals, a new project was submitted to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development programme “Europe is investing in rural areas”. Within this project, the company got the opportunity to purchase the necessary equipment for the processing of cheese and curd whey.
One of the biggest challenges was to understand if this project will bring the expected results because the company installed that type of whey processing equipment as first ones in Latvia. Thanks to the collaboration with the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies professionals, company "Smiltenes Piens" were first in Latvia who created a product - Whey Protein Drink “Piena spēks” ("Milk Power”). Today the classic "Milk Power" is flavoured with the taste of strawberry and vanilla, as well as the cottage cheese with yellow plum, rhubarb and lime - quince.
For Further information please see https://www.llu.lv/en.
