Uruguayan producer awaits six-year approval to sell pasteurised milk
Martínez, a dairy producer in Canelones, invested in the equipment to create a formal sales route for farmers who have difficulty entering regulated milk markets. He says the project still requires authorisation from Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries and from the Canelones municipal government.
The machine pasteurises milk and fills one-litre bags. Martínez says it uses high-temperature short-time, or HTST, processing. His plan also includes placing a QR code on each bag, allowing consumers to check information about the producer’s approved premises, its location and the vehicle used for delivery.
The proposed system would be limited to farms with health-controlled herds, authorised facilities and approved transport. Martínez has questioned why the machine has not yet received commercial clearance despite the applications and other steps he says have been taken.
The initiative was originally started by Martínez’s father. The equipment was demonstrated in Uruguay to Ecuadorian producers interested in the technology, and Martínez says similar machinery later began to be used in Ecuador. He also has a company ready to manufacture the bags needed for the operation if the permissions are granted.
The project includes a funding arrangement for youth football. Martínez, who coordinates junior teams at Artigas de Sauce, proposes allocating $4 from every litre processed to the junior sections of the 15 clubs in the Liga General Artigas de Fútbol. The money could pay for transport, specialist staff involved in training young players and other sporting costs.
Martínez gave the example of one interested farmer who could sell more than 200 litres a day, creating additional funds for the football programme. He says some producers who initially showed interest have become discouraged during the delay. The pasteuriser remains at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where a technical study of pasteurised milk’s shelf life was also recently conducted.
