Colombia's Burro Milk Challenge: Opportunity or Utopia

In Europe, donkey milk is gaining popularity due to its nutritional and functional properties, becoming increasingly demanded and expensive. However, in Colombia, its production and consumption remain nascent and unstable. Donkey milk has a protein profile similar to human milk, with higher amounts of whey proteins like alpha-lactalbumin, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulins, offering antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties.

A recent study titled "Donkey and goat milk intake and modulation of the human aged immune response" showed that consuming donkey milk for a month could positively alter cytokine profiles in older adults, boosting some related to healthy defenses and reducing others linked to excessive inflammatory responses. Additionally, it is well-tolerated in cases of cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) due to lower casein content, and it provides vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Despite business interest, such as from the Argentine company Equslac, considering expansion into Colombia, there is no consolidated national production nor a stable commercialization chain. Challenges include high initial investment, low productivity, complex logistics, and consumer acceptance.

Future opportunities hinge on promoting local studies on donkey performance, establishing specific sanitary regulations, educating consumers about benefits, and fostering public-private partnerships to provide technical support to small producers.