Dairy Protein Institute logo with a stylized red and black design and the words 'Dairy Protein Institute' next to it.

Commercializing
Dairy Innovation

DPI connects farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to bring dairy-based innovations to life — creating real-world solutions and returning value to the farmers who make it all possible.

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Become a Shareholder

For Farmers.

For the Future.

DPI was founded to ensure innovation in dairy starts (and stays) with the people who make it possible. By connecting farmers, researchers, and industry, we bring ideas to market and return their value to the farmers who fuel them through shared ownership and shared reward.

The Need

A New Way Forward for Dairy’s Future.

The dairy industry is rich with breakthrough research and ideas — but they never reach the market. DPI changes that by connecting insight and invention with partners who can build, scale, and deliver impact.

How It Works

Your Bridge From Idea to Market.

At DPI, commercialization comes first. We match great ideas — from farms, labs, and entrepreneurs — with the experts, partners, and market access to make them real. Our connected ecosystem brings together farmers, processors, start-ups, companies, and researchers for shared growth.

Expanding Dairy’s Reach

Dairy innovation doesn’t stop at the grocery shelf. From high-performance protein ingredients to processing innovations, therapeutics, compounds, and natural skin-care solutions, DPI accelerates breakthroughs.

Beverage

Food

Pharmaceuticals

Supplements

A skincare spray bottle
A glass with milk in it
A black fork and a black knife placed side by side.
Medicine pills
A supplement container

Beauty

A man with a beard, wearing a tractor cap, red plaid shirt, denim overalls, and brown work boots, sitting on a wooden fence, looking to the side with a piece of straw in his mouth against a cloudy sky and tree line in the background.
A scientist wearing blue gloves and a white lab coat using a pipette to transfer a purple liquid into small test tubes in a laboratory.

A Connected,
Collaborative Ecosystem.

Our team brings deep commercialization experience and industry insight. Members join a community committed to advancing dairy innovation, with access to resources, partners, and opportunities others can’t unlock alone.

Two individuals standing in front of a whiteboard covered with sketches, notes, and sticky notes, one holding a laptop and green marker, the other holding a marker, engaged in discussion about a project.
A young woman with long brown hair smiling as she pets a Holstein cow at a farm or barn.

FAQs

  • The Dairy Protein Institute (DPI) was founded by dairy producers and industry leaders across Idaho and Utah with a shared goal: turning innovation into opportunity. In close partnership with Dairy West, DPI works alongside universities, processors, and private industry to accelerate dairy protein research, commercialization, and market adoption.

  • DPI Shareholders are dairy producers actively engaged in commercial milk production and contributing to the federal dairy checkoff program.

    Additional shareholder opportunities are available for processors, investors, and research or innovation partners who share DPI’s mission to advance dairy protein innovation and commercialization.

  • Shareholders gain access to a network designed to connect ideas, resources, and opportunities. Benefits include:

    • Equity participation in dairy-based IP and commercialization projects.

    • Early visibility into new technologies, partnerships, and research opportunities.

    • Collaborative influence in shaping how dairy innovation moves from concept to market.

    • Potential financial returns through licensing, royalties, and DPI-led ventures.

    • Connection to a community of universities, processors, and innovation partners across the industry.

  • Joining DPI is simple. Click the “Become a Shareholder” button on our homepage to complete a short registration form. You’ll share basic details about your dairy operation, production volume, and verification information.

    Once reviewed and approved, you’ll receive confirmation of your membership and DPI share allocation.

  • Membership investment is based on annual milk production. Each member purchases shares proportional to their production level, at a one-time membership fee of $0.0025 per cwt, as outlined in DPI’s Articles of Incorporation.

    These funds help capitalize DPI’s operations, support research and innovation projects, and generate long-term value for members. Enrollment is currently open to producers in Idaho, Utah, Oregon, and Washington.

  • DPI bridges the gap between research and commercialization. We identify promising technologies from universities, entrepreneurs, and startups; validate them through applied research and pilot testing; and help secure licensing, equity partnerships, or market introductions.

    Our goal is to ensure that innovation in dairy protein becomes real-world impact — strengthening the entire dairy value chain and delivering returns to the producers who make it possible.

Be Part of Dairy’s Next Chapter.

Membership opens doors to influence, opportunity, and shared success. Get in early as DPI builds a pipeline of ideas that strengthen the industry and return value to its producers.

Become a Shareholder