The project is co-financed by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe. (Visegrad Fund)

PROJECT OBJECTIVES 

In the frame of MILKCHECK cross-border cooperation project V4 Dairy research institutes establish a macroregional network to identify and reflect the challenges of dairy industry, focusing on raw milk qualification. Structured data collection, common data base and analysis, comparison of existing laboratory protocols and methods help to determine the direction of future research and channel potential new phenomena into the regulatory framework.

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

01/02/2025–31/07/2026

POJECT ACTIVITIES, OUTPUTS

1. Workshop on raw milk qualification systems in the V4 countries, Mosonmagyaróvár, HU
2. Benchmark report on raw milk qualification, lab tests and protocols
3. Workshop on joint research Aflatoxin M1 and Prototheca, Prague, CZ
4. Research report on Aflatoxin M1 in V4 countries
5. Workshop on research results, use and sustainability of platform, future joint actions, Žilina, SK 
6. MILKCHECK online platform
7. Research report on Prototheca cases in V4

PARTNERS

Magyar Tejgazdasági Kísérleti Intézet Kft. / Hungarian Dairy Research Institute Ltd.

Address: Csiszár József utca 1., Mosonmagyaróvár, 9200, Hungary

Website: www.mtki.hu

The Hungarian Dairy Research Institute Ltd. (HDRI Ltd.) is one of the oldest food industry research, development and service institutes in Hungary. Since its foundation in 1903 it is widely acknowledged for expertise in technology, food safety and food quality topics, it is an active player in knowledge- and technology transfer in the food industry, primarily in the dairy industry. The Institute’s activity encompasses the following major areas: research and development, scientific work and vocational education; laboratory services; sales of food ingredients and additives; raw milk qualification, production of probiotic dietary supplements.

Instytut Biotechnologii Przemysłu Rolno-Spożywczego / Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology

Address: Rakowiecka 36, Warsaw, 02-532, Poland

Website: www.ibprs.pl

IBPRS is the leading agriculture and food research academic unit in Poland and the national body responsible for research, training and consulting. It is also a member of EFSA. The unit implements national and international projects concerning quality assessment of milk and dairy products, development of higher value-added dairy products with bioactive compounds, development of technologies for innovative dairy products with functional properties. It also advises on the fortification of milk and milk products with health-promoting ingredients and develops modern technological solutions, it runs expert consultations in the field of milk and dairy products safety, shelf life, texture, flavour or technology aspects. 

Výzkumný ústav mlékárenský s.r.o. / Dairy Research Institute Ltd.

Address: Ke Dvoru 12a, Prague 6, 160 00, Czechia

Website: https://www.vumlekarensky.cz

DRI Prague is directly involved in the methodological activities of quality control of raw cow’s milk. DRI can also provide summary information on the dynamics of raw milk quality over the last period in the Czech Republic, including data on milk recording control system, breeding and health control of dairy cows through its contacts at the Czech-Moravian Breeders Association. DRI has experience in cooperation on foreign projects and is able to define the challenges and possibilities of future dairy research. Previously, DRI cooperated on the basis of membership in the international dairy organization AFEMA (www.afema-ev.de).

Národné poľnohospodárske a potravinárske centrum (NPPC) / National Agricultural and Food Centre

Address: Hlohovecká 2, Lužianky, 951 41, Slovakia

Website: www.nppc.sk

NPPC RIAP’s goal oriented fundamental and applied research topics include the udder health of dairy animals (cows, ewes and goats), to study somatic cell count in milk and presence of mastitis pathogens in udder under the practical conditions, evaluation of somatic cell counts on milk yield and its composition. Research also deals with technical parameters of machine milking equipment, estimation of good milking procedures of milkers in dairy parlour, welfare of dairy animals during milking process. Concerning dairy research RIAP cooperates with foreign and home institutions, with dairy farms. 

Výskumný ústav mliekárenský, a.s. / Dairy Research Institute

Address: Dlhá 95, Žilina, 010 01, Slovakia

Website: www.vumza.sk

VUM laboratory is engaged in the development and validation of new lab test methods, the elaboration of new standards and related legislation. VUM supplies additives for the food industry, focusing on milk production and processing. VUM participated and coordinated national projects oriented on quality of raw milk, for example: APVV-0357-12 Methods for control of quality and safety of raw milk; APVV-20-0204 Method for assessment of microbiological quality of raw goats’ milk and application of autochthone lactic acid bacteria in processing of un-bovine milk.