Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Dairy Forum in Palm Desert, California. It was a gathering that truly showcased what it means to be United for Dairy across the entire dairy community. That includes farm families, processors and those of us working in food, nutrition and advocacy. It was energizing to celebrate collective wins, including the passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which affirm dairy at all fat levels are part of healthy eating patterns.
The forum also offered a forward‑looking lens on the future of the dairy industry, from innovations and artificial intelligence to leadership succession planning and the evolving conversation around ultra‑processed foods and what these definitions may mean for dairy. It was a valuable time for connection, reflection and looking ahead together.
In the spirit of unity, following are opportunities to understand key updates on food processing definitions, learn about new dairy research and access a new resource to continue the momentum.
The Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) recently published Guiding Principles for Science-Based Food Classification Systems Focused on Processing and Formulation.
The purpose of the guiding principles is to help steer the development, refinement and application of food formulation and processing classification systems and provide a standardized, efficient approach to research on processed foods. There are several key implications for dairy in the guiding principles:
IAFNS plans to share registration details for an upcoming Research Roundtable that will take place March 11–12, 2026, where feedback can be shared. More information can be found on the resource page.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it has awarded more than $11 million in grants to support the dairy industry. This funding will be distributed through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Program. The grant program aims to align USDA’s efforts to promote the U.S. dairy industry, following approval of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and release of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. California State University, Fresno is one of four initiatives awarded grant funding.
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve how we share dairy nutrition information at Dairy Council of CA, we are sunsetting the DairyUP app and transitioning its trusted content to a newly updated Milk & Dairy Nutrition page on DairyCouncilofCA.org. This refreshed web hub brings together many of the FAQs and science-based answers users relied on in DairyUP, now in an easier-to-access, searchable format that can be readily found, shared and kept current across health care settings, classrooms, communities and conversations.
Find these updated FAQs and resources on the Milk & Dairy Nutrition page at DairyCouncilofCA.org, and bookmark the page for easy access.
The 2026 California Dairy Sustainability Summit is taking place on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Visalia Convention Center. Industry leaders, policymakers, dairy farmers and other leading experts will take the stage to talk about the future of California dairy, efforts to address water scarcity, changing regulations, and the latest strategies for improving economic and environmental sustainability.
You are also invited to join Dairy Council of CA in partnership with the California Milk Advisory Board for a Dairy Innovation and Education Reception on Monday evening, March 23, 5–6:30 p.m. at the Visalia Convention Center lobby and outdoor plaza. Connect with the Mobile Dairy Classroom, sample innovative dairy products from the Real California Milk Excelerator product competition and learn about the California Dairy Innovation Center’s programs during this special pre-summit event. There is no added cost. Please RSVP to attend the reception when you register for the summit.
Visit cadairysummit.com for more information and to register.
If you have questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California