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Collaborative project: Quantification of the economic relevance of raw milk marketing on farms in Germany via vending machines, with special relevance to conditions of location and investment cost, as well as successful hygiene management expenses. Subproject 1 (MILQMAT)

Project


Project code: MRI-MBT-08-926-1040 MILQMAT, 28RZ3080
Contract period: 01.07.2019 - 30.06.2022
Budget: 297,722 Euro
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
Keywords: food safety, milk, production, quality control, food quality, microorganisms, hygiene, company, holding, rural development

The project aims to perform a German-wide, representative survey of the economic impact and growth potential of raw milk marketing via vending machines, with reference to equipment technology and food hygiene aspects. Therefore, the market potential of direct commercialization under varying conditions, e.g. location and investment cost, will be determined. In a further task, equipment technology aspects will be investigated with regard to their potential effects on raw milk quality. The operation of vending machines will be optimized especially in view of the respective new DIN standard. The microbiological quality and safety of raw milk will be examined in the third work package. Based on these results, recommendations will be developed for the farmers which regard cost investments, successful operation and hygiene management in order to increase the value of this agricultural product.At the state level or at the district veterinary offices, the number of registered milk dispensers in Germany was determined together with the research partners in the context of a query. In a subsequent online search, the farms were identified and the addresses assigned. Based on this data, a representative sample for Germany was determined.
In first preliminary tests the transport logistics were planned and carried out in simulation tests in order to guarantee cooling of the raw milk samples over the complete transport period of several hours.  
The microbiological investigations were planned, agreed upon and established between the project partners on the basis of the official collection of test methods according to §64 LFGB.
For the sampling, which started recently, questionnaires were prepared. Based on the first questionnaire, parameters such as the current weather situation, the vending machine model and location as well as the temperature of the milk during collection are determined. The aim is to identify possible causal relationships between individual parameters and the results of the microbiological examination and to calculate correlations.
Subsequently, a more intensive sampling of a smaller sample is planned in order to investigate these possible causal relationships in more detail. This will involve answering a second questionnaire in interviews with the farmers. This will include more detailed questions about the operation of the milk dispenser, cleaning and maintenance, temperature monitoring and the workflows during filling of the milk dispenser. On the other hand, a detailed sampling with microbiological examination is also carried out here.







 

 

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BMEL - research cluster

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