An ingredient developed by New Zealand co-op Fonterra that supports the brain development of babies during pregnancy and into infancy is a finalist in international awards recognising life-changing innovations.
The NZMP SureStartTM Lipid 100 ingredient, designed to replicated some of the benefits of breast milk, is finalist in the Ingredient of the Year – Infant Nutrition category at the NutraIngredients Awards in Geneva.
The dairy used New Zealand milk to develop the lipid for maternal and infant formula, and it has been patented in several countries.
“Scientists at Fonterra have been focusing their research on the structure of lipids found in human breast milk and the associated benefits for the developing infant,” said Fonterra Nutrition general manager Angela Rowan.
“The NZMP ingredient has been developed from cows’ milk to help deliver complex milk lipids in infant formula.”
The shortlisting highlighted the co-operative’s dairy expertise and strength in innovation, research and development and ability to pass on dairy nutrition to consumers, she added.
The awards celebrate innovations improving people’s lives, health and disease reduction, based on scientific merit, efficiency, innovation and commercialisation.
Last year, Fonterra received a food and beverage innovation award at the New Zealand Innovation Awards for its research in infant nutrition.
