2025 was busy for the Dairy Innovation Hub! The Hub would like to thank everyone who helped make it a great year! Highlighted below are just a few samples of activities, updates, and more from the past year.
New faculty hired
In August, the Hub welcomed Kelvin Amon as an assistant professor of dairy business and economic development in the UW–Platteville School of Agriculture.
His work focuses on understanding how farmers make decisions and finding practical ways to address challenges like pests and diseases. By applying economic principles, he develops strategies that help Wisconsin dairy farmers improve decision-making and remain competitive.
Amon’s research will help support the Hub’s four priority areas: stewarding land and water resources, enriching human health and nutrition, ensuring animal health and welfare, and growing farm business and communities.
Hub research hits the road
Throughout the year, the Hub jumped at the chance to share project outcomes.
In January, Maria Woldt introduced students to the Dairy Innovation Hub at the Ag Forward event. Ag Forward is a multi-day short course, featuring faculty and researcher speakers from UW–Madison, for UW–River Falls Farm and Industry Short Course students. The sessions offered students an opportunity to learn about the latest university research, engage in meaningful discussions, and ask questions.
In March, the Hub hosted an informational research poster session at the Wisconsin State Capitol co-located with Ag Day at the Capitol, which is coordinated by Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. State leaders and other attendees had the opportunity to browse a dozen research posters and engage with students and faculty affiliated with Hub-funded projects.
The Hub also attended the PDP Business Conference in March, where multiple Hub-funded faculty gave research presentations on the PDP Preview Stage. More than 30 research posters were on display for the duration of the conference.
Rounding out a busy spring, Wisconsin’s dairy-industry leaders gathered at the Baraboo Arts Center to celebrate the success of the Dairy Innovation Hub. UW-Madison chancellor Jennifer Mnookin joined panelists Matt Ruark, Dairy Innovation Hub faculty director; Shelly Mayer, executive director of Professional Dairy Producers; and state representative Karen DeSanto to discuss the Hub’s impact on Wisconsin’s $52.8 billion dairy industry.
In August, members of the Hub’s advisory council held their summer in-person meeting at the UW–Madison Lancaster Agricultural Research Station (ARS) in Lancaster, Wis. In addition to advisory council members, area farmers, local legislators, and board members from key agriculture organizations were invited to attend the tours. Tour stops included long-term soil and water quality research at Lancaster ARS, linking private farms and university research at Stone-Front Farm, and experiencing innovative equipment in action at UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm . Read the full recap article
Funded research at UW–Madison, UW–River Falls, and UW–Platteville
2025 was a busy year for research projects! For all three campuses, the Hub provided funding for research across the Hub’s four priority areas.
- UW–Madison: In early 2025, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) at UW–Madison announced a third cohort of six, two-year postdoctoral fellowships to help increase dairy-related research capacity through the Dairy Innovation Hub initiative. A postdoctoral fellowship is a temporary academic position for PhD graduates to gain specialized research experience and training under the guidance of an experienced faculty member. Learn more about the funded projects here.
- UW–River Falls: Four faculty were awarded faculty research fellowships to help increase dairy-related research capacity. A faculty research fellowship is a temporary position for permanent faculty members. The goal is to provide support for a specific research project and any ancillary costs — including ensuring that the faculty member will have time to conduct the research and support for existing teaching. Learn more about the faculty fellows here.
- UW–Platteville: Six Dairy Industry Impact Innovation faculty fellowships, or DI3 faculty fellowships, were awarded to faculty to help increase dairy-related research capacity. DI3 faculty fellowships are intended to leverage existing UW–Platteville expertise to provide timely results supporting the goals of the Hub. Learn more about the funded projects here.
Hub attends World Dairy Expo
During World Dairy Expo in October, the Hub joined UW–Madison, UW–River Falls, and UW–Platteville alumni and friends at their respective receptions. The events were co-located, and guests were able to go from room to room visiting with multiple campuses. The Hub hosted a small collection of research posters in front of each meeting room. It was a great time for faculty, staff and friends to connect at the foremost global dairy event!
With Hub support, UW–Platteville team patents dairy-based sustainable plastic
In fall 2025, a UW–Platteville faculty team achieved a major milestone with a patented process that transforms casein and whey into durable, flexible materials suitable for 3D printing and other applications. The project, led by Joseph Wu, associate professor of chemistry, and John Obielodan, chair of mechanical and industrial engineering, was among the Dairy Innovation Hub’s first research awards in 2020, right at the start of the initiative.
Fast forward five years, and the effort culminated in WiSys being awarded a U.S. patent for a novel method of transforming dairy waste into usable plastic—a breakthrough with global significance as the widespread use of non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics remains a major concern.
Sixth annual report released
In October the Hub released its sixth annual report reflecting progress and activities at UW–Madison, UW–Platteville, and UW–River Falls from July 2024 through June 2025. Included in the report are the Hub’s major accomplishments, funded projects, faculty profiles and more. Read the report here.
Successful Dairy Symposium and Dairy Summit
The Hub held its annual Dairy Symposium on May 14, at the Memorial Union on the UW–Madison campus. Over 250 researchers, students, academic colleagues, and campus affiliates attended the day-long event. Symposium is the academic-focused companion to the public-focused Dairy Summit held each November.
The sixth annual Dairy Summit was held on November 18 on the UW–River Falls campus. Roughly 175 researchers, campus affiliates, students, dairy professionals, and community members attended the event in-person. Another 75 people attended the event virtually, and videos of summit sessions are available online.
Both events were well-attended and facilitated discussions about how this work can help meet the challenges facing today’s dairy community.
Having a meaningful impact
By supporting talent (faculty, postdocs, students), funding diverse projects, and creating opportunities for public outreach and education, the Hub is laying a foundation for long-term impact for Wisconsin’s dairy community.
Six years after the Hub was founded, the initial spark has not faded – it has gotten brighter. The Hub continues to serve as an incubator for innovative research and collaboration at UW–Madison, UW–Platteville, and UW–River Falls