by Stefan Ziajka

The creation of the Warmia and Mazury Dairy Excellence Center (WAMADAIREC) was an answer to the needs of both the scientific community and dairy industry employees. The Center was established Apr. 1, 2003 at the Institute of Dairy Science and Technology Development (IDSTD) of the Faculty of Food Sciences at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. It was the result of a proposal from the competition announced by the European Commission in the 5th Framework Program, in the thematic program: Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources (key action: Food, Nutrition and Health). The IDSTD is the main executor of the WAMADAIREC project, however it collaborates with other entities of the faculty. The project will be realized during three years.

Exchange of experience
Generally, the activities of WAMADAIREC are divided into three basic areas: education (postgraduate studies and study visits), cooperation (establishment of a national and international networking system in the dairy sector by organizing workshops, seminars and summer schools) and promotion. The main aim of WAMADAIREC is to inform dairy practitioners from Poland and abroad about technological progress and scientific achievements in the field of milk production and processing, as well as facilitating the exchange of experience between scientific units and companies offering services for the dairy industry. Moreover, the goals of this project include strengthening of the network between the Center and the dairy industry, direct assistance of WAMADAIREC specialists in solving technical-technological problems and implementation of quality management systems in dairy plants, as well as ensuring sustainable development of the dairy industry. These aims will be achieved by participation in trade fairs, closer cooperation with the industry and meetings with national dairy associations in order to strengthen cooperation in training organization and discuss the current problems of the dairy sector.

The basic goals of WAMADAIREC are:
- intensification and extension of ongoing research through closer cooperation with leading European centers working in the field of dairy science, consumer science, health-related sciences and others;
- dissemination of knowledge about technical and technological development in dairying and the newest achievements in dairy science; education and training of highly specialized professionals in the areas of dairy technology, safety of dairy products, health and consumer aspects related to the dairy sector in order to increase regional development;
- increase of scientific and educational efficiency, technology transfer and achievement of benefits for society with a special emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises;
- networking with prominent national and foreign dairy centers in EU countries leading to participation in the 6th Framework Program, capacity building, promotion and dissemination of knowledge and activity of WAMADAIREC;
- conformation of Polish dairy technology to EU standards and dissemination of knowledge about food law in the EU;
We also want to participate in the 6th Framework Program. WAMADAIREC has applied for funds to organize PhD studies within the confines of Marie Curie Host Fellowships for Early Stage Research Training.

Milk research
The Faculty of Food Sciences, which is a foundation for WAMADAIREC, associates a wide group of specialists involved in all aspects of milk production and processing. The scientific activity carried out in the Faculty includes research in the following areas: chemical, physical and microbiological milk properties, improving technological processes, possibilities for obtaining bioactive components from milk, improving the properties of milk substitutes and diet-therapeutic preparations, safety of dairy products, designing new, environmentally friendly technologies.

IDSTD, a part of the Faculty of Food Sciences, is the largest and best-equipped university center in Poland educating professional personnel for dairy enterprises. The major areas of operation for IDSTD include scientific, educational, consulting and training activities. Additionally to these basic activities, IDSTD offers services to the dairy industry in the area of advisory services and consulting, laboratory analyses and expert opinions as well as promotion of dairy products. For a number of years IDSTD has organized many international symposiums and conferences and takes an active part in Food Fairs.

IDSTD workers are authors of many patents and implementations concerning production of dairy products. The employees of IDSTD have authored many scientific publications, books and guidebooks and take part in many industrial projects. They actively participate in organizing and conducting a number of training courses addressed to dairy industry employees from Poland and other countries. IDSTD has also organized training for Veterinary and Sanitary Inspections in the field of hygiene of milk production and processing. An integral part of IDSTD is a technological pilot plant with modern equipment which enables its research.

Moreover IDSTD is well experienced in international cooperation with many institutions. IDSTD has participated in many international projects, i.e.: Milk Production and Processing, Quality Management in the Dairy Industry, Implementation of the HACCP in the Production of Foodstuffs.

Contact
Coordinator:
Professor Stefan Ziajka, Warmia and Mazury Dairy Center of Excellence
Institute of Dairy Science and Technology Development
University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
e-mail: ziajka@uwm.edu.pl
tel.(+48-89) 523-32-77

Deputy Coordinator:
Dr Anna Sylwia Tarczyńska
e-mail: sylwiaol@uwm.edu.pl
tel.(+48-89) 523-42-20
www.uwm.edu.pl/wamadairec