Uganda to produce and export casein

By Macrines Nyapendi

UGANDA is set to become the first East and central African country to produce and export casein, a milk protein.

Casein (pronounced kay-seen) is the predominant protein found in milk that makes up about 80% of the protein in cow’s milk will be produced by Pearl Dairies.

Pearl dairies is a subsidiary of Midland group of companies that has invested $15m in the processing plant.

Akash Kumar, the managing director of Midland group said that their mission was to steer Uganda’s dairy sector to niche markets.

“We intend to make new innovations that are aimed at improving and diversifying the range of dairy products on the local, regional and international markets,” Kumar said.

The protein is the most expensive preserved and much sought after dairy product on the international markets with the European Union is the biggest producer of casein followed by New Zealand, Australia, Russian and Ukraine.

“The dairy sub sector has the potential to reduce poverty levels, create the sought after jobs and also earn the country foreign exchange. It can also significantly contribute to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child and maternal mortality, while increasing income for small rural households,” Kumar explained.

Casein is extracted from the milk through ultra-filtration, without the use of chemicals. This process increases the amount of bioactive milk peptides that support immune function as well as enhance muscle growth.

The Mbarara based factory will have the capacity to process 500,000 litres of milk daily. With that capacity, the farmers have a guaranteed market for a quarter of their daily production of 1.5million litres.

“We are investing in dairy because it is the fastest and most organized agricultural subsector with the potential to transform the economy. All we need for the transformation is dedication, innovation and diversification in the range of products on the market,” he said.

Currently Sameer is the biggest processing plant with an estimated capacity of 150,000litres daily; other processors handle between 15000litres and 70,000 litres daily.

The factory that commences production in January 2012 will employ 250 people directly, another 10,000 and will offer farmers ready market for their milk.

Apart from being a high protein product, casein is also widely used in the gourmet industry and as a supplement for strong muscles for body builders. The plant will also produce powdered milk, cheese, butter, pasteurized milk and ghee.

Medical experts affirm that the slow pace at which casein is digested is good for health.

“Within our first five years of existence, we hope to drive up per capita milk consumption by at least 100litres per person per year. We will do this through innovative packaging of our range of products and marketing, “he added.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the World Health Organisation, Uganda's per capita milk consumption of about 50 litres is below the per-capita consumption rate of 200 litres recommended.

Though the potential is not fully developed Uganda has a buoyant market for milk and dairy products. Milk production is growing rapidly in Uganda and the country is said to be self-sufficient in milk.

Most off-farm sales are processed and marketed through a large and vibrant informal sector that is able to meet a need that the formal market cannot: milk that is both cheap and readily available for which producers are paid prices that the formal sector cannot match.

Casein Uses

Paint

Casein paint is a fast-drying, water-soluble medium used by artists. Casein paint has been used since ancient Egyptian times as a form of tempera paint, and was widely used by commercial illustrators as the material of choice until the late 1960s when, with the advent of acrylic paint, casein became less population

Glue

Casein-based glues were popular for woodworking, including for aircraft, as late as the de Havilland Mosquito.

Cheese making

Cheese consists of proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. It is produced by coagulation of casein. Unlike many proteins, casein is not coagulated by heat.

Plastics and fiber

Some of the earliest plastics were based on casein. In particular, galalith was well-known for use in buttons. Fiber can be made from extruded casein and lanital, a fabric made from casein fiber products, was particularly popular in Italy during the 1930s.

Protein supplements

An attractive property of the casein molecule is its ability to form a gel or clot in the stomach, which makes it very efficient in nutrient supply. The clot is able to provide a sustained slow release of amino acids into the blood stream. This provides better nitrogen retention and use by the body.

Medical and dental uses

Casein-derived compounds are used in tooth remineralization products to stabilize amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and release the ACP onto tooth surfaces, where it can facilitate remineralization