Innovative Dairy Strategy Boosts Production in Minas Gerais, Brazil
The Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG) has inaugurated a new dairy facility in Leme do Prado, located in the Vale do Jequitinhonha. This initiative aims to integrate research, training, and milk product manufacturing. Known as the Laticínio e Queijaria Mata do Acauã, the facility supports family farmers and small producers while serving as a platform for testing and demonstrating new technologies.
Since its inception, the project has trained over 200 producers, with the goal of expanding technical knowledge and enhancing the value of milk produced in the region. The facility has been instrumental in the development of various products, including pasteurized cheese, clarified butter, and both fermented and non-fermented dairy beverages. Currently, production focuses on mozzarella cheese and fermented dairy beverages, which have received local inspection approval for commercialization.
A future project involves the creation of Queijo Acauã, designed to highlight the unique characteristics of local production. Moreover, the cattle herd at the Acauã Experimental Field has achieved certification as free from brucellosis and tuberculosis.
The new facility benefited from substantial financial investments, including approximately R$ 600,000 from the state government for improvements and equipment, about R$ 1 million from parliamentary amendments, around R$ 300,000 from internal resources, and additional funding from the Minas Gerais State Research Support Foundation (Fapemig).
The dairy plant is well-equipped for processing dairy derivatives, featuring production tables, ovens, and tanks. Beyond production and research, the Acauã Experimental Field now hosts an Empório Epamig, a technological showcase offering technical publications and gourmet products created by the company.
This comprehensive initiative is further supported by partnerships with Emater-MG, the Instituto Mineiro de Agropecuária (IMA), and the Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Rural (Senar). Through this project, EPAMIG aims to create an environment that links technical knowledge, producer training, and dairy product development aligned with the regional production landscape of Vale do Jequitinhonha.
