As growing protein demand and a projected 28-million-tonne protein gap by 2030 push ingredient sourcing up the boardroom agenda, an EU co-funded campaign connects European dairy suppliers from Ireland with food manufacturers and R&D teams in the South East Asia region.
Singapore, 11 November 2026 – With dairy protein demand outstripping global processing capacity for specialized ingredients, European dairy suppliers from Ireland are ramping up production and technical innovation for Asian formulators. The move is anchored by the EU co-funded “European Dairy: Ireland, Where Nature Meets Science” campaign, a €3.2 million, three-year initiative designed to fortify Asia’s food supply chain with sustainably produced, premium dairy ingredients.
Growing Protein Demand Meets European Dairy Expertise
Global protein demand is set to skyrocket 70% by 2050, with the market facing an alarming 28-million-tonne annual deficit as early as 2030, according to UBIC Consulting’s Milk Protein Ingredients Competitive Landscape Report. To help plug this impending supply gap, European dairy suppliers from Ireland are leveraging the European Union’s rigorous food safety, complete farm-to-fork traceability, and world-class quality standards to deliver high-performance functional ingredients to global formulators.
Where the Squeeze Is Tightest, and What Comes Next
Carbery, a European dairy ingredients company from Ireland, observes that sports nutrition is expanding into broader active nutrition and wellness categories. Protein-enriched products are increasingly targeting mainstream consumers seeking support for healthy aging, weight management and everyday nutrition, with applications extending to ready-to-drink beverages, meal replacements, functional snacks and fortified yogurts.
Within dairy proteins, whey protein concentrate (WPC80) and whey protein isolate (WPI) are among the dairy protein ingredients facing the strongest market pressure, as growing demand for high-protein and specialised nutrition products meets relatively constrained processing capacity. Milk protein concentrate (MPC) is also gaining attention as manufacturers explore formulation options, while casein continues to open opportunities in specialised nutrition and functional applications. This combination of rising demand and constrained capacity is prompting European dairy suppliers from Ireland to invest in additional processing capacity and broaden their product portfolios.
Tirlán, Ireland’s leading dairy processor, processing around one-third of the country’s milk supply,is investing €126 million in a new whey processing facility at Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, expected to be operational by mid-2027. The facility will focus on an advanced nutritional whey protein portfolio, including clear whey protein. According to Tirlán, it is designed to be water neutral and carbon efficient.
Beyond whey, Bord Bia’s supplier directory lists capabilities across milk protein ingredients, casein and caseinates. These ingredients serve different nutritional and functional requirements, with selected products offering properties such as heat stability, emulsification and water binding for food, beverage and specialised nutrition applications.
Alongside these capabilities, Bord Bia’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme and Origin Greenn programme at both at farm level and manufacturing level support the sector’s approach to assurance and sustainability.
Ms. Lisa Phelan, South East Asia Manager of Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board, said, “Through this EU-funded campaign, we want to bring manufacturers and European dairy suppliers from Ireland into closer dialogue. By connecting formulators and buyers with supplier expertise, we aim to support technical exchange, product development and long-term commercial partnerships.”
Growing Dairy Trade with Southeast Asia
European dairy exports from Ireland to seven Southeast Asian markets reached €270.5 million in 2025, up 14% year on year, with volumes rising 10% to 86.0 million kg. Momentum has accelerated in 2026: between January and August, export value jumped 32% to €230.2 million, from €174.3 million in the same period of 2025, while volume grew 19% to 66.3 million kg. Infant food, skim milk powder, whey and butter led the value growth.
Singapore: Where Science Meets Sourcing
Singapore’s role as a regional research and commercial hub creates opportunities to connect European dairy suppliers from Ireland with food and specialised nutrition manufacturers. The campaign’s planned industry networking and technical seminars
provide platforms to engage Singapore-based R&D teams, procurement professionals, importers and distributors on dairy ingredients and their applications.
Next Stop: FHA 2027
Building on its presence at Growth Asia Summit in Singapore in July 2026, the campaign will return to Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) at Singapore Expo from 20 to 23 April 2027. A technical R&D seminar for formulators, product developers and procurement professionals will take place alongside the exhibition and similar events have also been planned in Vietnam and China in 2027
More information about the campaign is available at: https://european-dairy.eu/
