Land O'Lakes Foundation Donates $200,000 to University of Wisconsin

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Land O'Lakes Foundation made a four-year $200,000 pledge to the University of Wisconsin Foundation for its Center for Dairy Research and Babcock Hall Dairy Plant Building Fund, both located at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Anchored in one of the country's top research universities, scientists at the Center for Dairy Research collaborate with other researchers and those in industry to continue to conduct research focused on producing the safest, highest-quality dairy products. Consumers continue to look for more cultured products, highly flavored specialty cheeses and highly nutritious protein ingredients.

The new building will help give students industry-ready experiences, expand the capability to work with all cheeses and allow the university to host an increasing number of industry training sessions and short courses and hands-on experience for more industry personnel.

"The Land O'Lakes Foundation is pleased to partner with the University of Wisconsin to develop state-of-the-art research facilities," said Lydia Botham, executive director of the Land O'Lakes Foundation. "Providing researchers and students with the opportunity to conduct cutting edge research and participate hands-on learning is critical to fostering ongoing innovation that will lead to continuing the future of high-quality dairy products consumers want and need."

Leaders in the dairy industry are partnering with the State of Wisconsin on the project. The University of Wisconsin has been a key industry partner for dairy innovation since 1890 when it offered its first dairy short course. The renovations will create 67,000 square feet of space with 20,000 square feet of it dedicated to research in the dairy industry. The facility will include more space for training and education, specialty ripening rooms, a cultured products suite, a modern milk processing plant and an intake area.

The Land O'Lakes Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in communities where the cooperative has members, employees, plants and facilities. The Foundation helps rural communities prosper and prepare for tomorrow by donating resources that develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to hunger and human services, education and youth, civic activities and the arts.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. (www.landolakesinc.com) is a national, farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of nearly $13 billion. The nation's second-largest cooperative and number 210 on the Fortune 500, Land O'Lakes does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the United States; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers and ranchers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, and crop protection products and services) under the operations of WinField and Purina Animal Nutrition. Land O'Lakes also provides agricultural assistance and technical training in more than 25 developing nations.

SOURCE The Land O’Lakes Foundation