Research Funding

Our Program

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to support Canadian research in the area of nutrition, food science and health and to contribute to the development of a Canadian network of experts in those fields. The research we fund is conducted in a strictly impartial and unbiased fashion. Studies are selected by a peer-review committee comprised of renowned Canadian researchers with expertise in various areas of food science, nutrition, health science and medicine. This independent committee is responsible not only for the scientific evaluation of the research proposals we receive, but also for following the progress of the selected research projects. Under an agreement reached in the spring of 1996, proposals selected by DFC may be submitted to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The funding for projects that meet the criteria for both agencies is shared on an equal basis. The research we support has made, and will continue to make, significant contributions to the international body of knowledge in both basic and applied science.

Our Research Priorities

DFC considers those applications that have nutritional and health implications for Canadian dairy products and are relevant to Canadian dairy farmers. In addition, we have a special interest in encouraging research that will help bring innovative and competitive dairy products with health benefits to the market. Of specific interest to DFC are research proposals which feature milk products in their entirety, demonstrate technological innovation and utilize a multidisciplinary approach, whenever possible, to address fundamental and applied research questions. Applied human randomized, controlled trials and in vivo mechanistic studies are of particular interest. Our current research priorities and topics of interest are as follows:

Dairy products in cardiovascular health:

• Clarify the role of dairy products and dairy fat, including ruminant trans fatty acids, on blood lipid levels and other CVD biomarkers;
• Investigate the impact of dairy products on new and emerging CVD risk factors, particularly inflammation;
• Clarify the role of dairy products on blood pressure management;
• Clarify the role of specific components found in dairy products such as bioactive peptides on blood pressure;
• Clarify the role of dairy products and their key components in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes.

Dairy products in healthy weight and body composition:

• Clarify the role of dairy products in weight management and body composition in adults and children/adolescents;
• Clarify the role of dairy protein and other components in weight management and body composition;
• Clarify the role of dairy products in optimal body composition in physically active individuals (including athletes);
• Clarify the role of dairy products in healthy aging by preserving lean body mass.

Dairy products in optimal nutrition, development and maintenance:

• Identify optimal levels of intake of milk products to meet nutritional needs for calcium and other nutrients;
• Identify full benefits of milk products with respect to bone health and prevention of osteoporosis and fractures, including role of dairy protein;
• Clarify benefits associated with milk and milk products for school-aged children and adolescents in terms of nutritional and health outcomes;
• Understand the reasons for under consumption of milk products by Canadians;
• Understand role of milk products in healthy aging.