Why we do this
Across the world, milk products are a recommend part of the daily diet from childhood to old age. A growing number of people are able to afford milk products on a regular basis.
However, there is also a growing uncertainty about which foods are healthy and some people have become milk sceptics. The need for knowledge and credible research on milk nutrition and its role in addressing global health challenges is stronger than ever.
Our Aspiration
We invest in research into the health benefits of milk and how milk products with added natural ingredients can make it easier for people to live healthy lives. Our scientists work together with academics from international research institutions to assess new scientific findings and to align our research and product development to match the global health needs.
We collaborate with experts and openly share our findings to increase the knowledge among people of the scientifically documented facts.
We build partnerships with our retail customers to strengthen their health profile and to make healthy products more available. To bring the benefits to more people across the world, we also work to improve affordability and shelf life of our products.
Some of our activities
- Arla Food for Health: A private-public partnership between Arla Foods, Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen with a reach to a network of international researchers. The aim is to strengthen research into health and dairy-based nutrition. The center currently have initiated 10 active research projects, visit the Arla Food for Health webpage for more information.
- Preventing age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass: We fund and participate in a research project on how changes in diets and exercise can reduce age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass. The publicly funded project is a collaboration between Arla Foods Ingredients, three faculties at University of Copenhagen and a range of public and private partners. It covers healthcare practices, clinical studies and product development.
- We investigate why milk is so efficient in delivering vitamin B12. The project is funded by the Danish Strategic Research Council and is a collaboration between Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital and Arla Foods Ingredients.
- Arla is parts of a project that aims to develop of sustainable, healthy and affordable products for African markets based on a combination of protein from milk and plants. It involves the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, University of London, Fan Milk International and Triple A. The research project is funded by the Danish Council for Strategic Research.
- Arla is part of the Neomune Centre which is a collaboration between University of Copenhagen, University of Aarhus, University of Giessen, Technical University of Denmark and Sun Yatsen University Guangzhou. The objective is to develop the optimal diet and gut microbiota in early life to obtain better immune, gut and brain functions throughout life.
- Arla participates in a national public-private partnership for food, meals and health. The objective is to share and contribute with our learnings and views on health and responsible eating in a professional multi-stakeholder set up.
Other Partnerships & Alliances
FAO CFS Private Sector Mechanism
EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity, & Health
WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes
Global Dairy Platform
British Nutrition Foundation
Swedish Nutrition Foundation
Public-Private Partnership “Forum for mad, måltider og sundhed” (DK)
International Dairy Federation
Local Food & Dairy Associations
EU Pledge