National Dairy Development Board commissions dairy plant in UK

INDIA – IDMC Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), has commissioned a fully automated dairy processing plant with a capacity of one million litres per day for Freshways in Birmingham, United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone for India’s dairy engineering capabilities on the global stage.

Highlighting the achievement, NDDB and IDMC Chairman Dr Meenesh Shah said the project reflects the growing international recognition of India’s expertise in dairy technology and engineering.

The state-of-the-art facility is expected to strengthen Freshways’ processing capabilities while showcasing the technical competence of Indian dairy institutions in executing world-class projects overseas.

The successful commissioning reinforces IDMC’s position as a leading provider of dairy processing solutions and underlines NDDB’s commitment to promoting Indian dairy innovation and engineering excellence in international markets.

NDDB begins supply of indigenous starter cultures

Recently, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) commenced the supply of indigenous starter cultures to major Indian dairy brands, including Amul, Banas Dairy, and Mother Dairy, in a landmark move toward self-reliance in the dairy sector.

These starter cultures, essential bacterial blends used in the fermentation of curd, yogurt, lassi, buttermilk, and cheese, have long been imported from countries such as Denmark, which adds to production costs and supply chain vulnerabilities.

The shift to domestic production is being powered by NDDB’s newly established Ready-to-Use Culture (RUC) facility in Anand, Gujarat, which was inaugurated by Union Minister of Home and Cooperation Amit Shah in July 2025.

This state-of-the-art plant is equipped with advanced fermenters, concentrators, and freeze dryers, and has the capacity to ferment up to 1 million liters of milk per day.

Unlike traditional propagative cultures, NDDB’s RUCs are freeze-dried, offering more extended shelf life, higher bacterial concentration, and ease of use—they can be added directly to milk without requiring technical expertise.

According to NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah, the cost of these cultures is minimal, with just 30 paise worth of RUC needed for a ₹60 pouch of curd.

The technology has been transferred to IDMC Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB, for commercial manufacturing and marketing. Leading dairy cooperatives have already tested the products and have received positive feedback.

With the Indian market for RUCs estimated at ₹300 crore, NDDB aims to capture 20% of the market share, signaling a major step toward “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in dairy innovation. This initiative not only reduces import dependency but also strengthens quality control and operational resilience across India’s dairy ecosystem.

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