David Oldfield – An expert behind NZMP’s Recombined Reference

Drawing from over 70 years of innovation in dairy, the Recombined Reference is an essential guide for dairy manufacturers. Recombination is a process whereby milk that has been dried into a powder is reconstituted to return it to its original liquid form to create all traditional dairy applications including cheese, beverages and cultured.

As the dairy ingredients and solutions brand of Fonterra, NZMP has created this reference for its customers and other parties in the dairy industry. The Recombined Reference is based on scientific sources, Fonterra’s unpublished research and a wealth of experience and expertise in dairying.

David is a Senior Technologist at Fonterra’s Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Having worked for Fonterra for over 17 years, David is intrinsically involved in consumer lead innovation and formulations. Breaking new ground within beverage concepts, David has extensive dairy industry experience – working in innovative research and development in both New Zealand and Ireland.

Back when he started in dairy, David’s research revolved mostly around milk powder, coffee stability, whiteners and heat-stable powders. When he came back from Ireland, David became a lecturer at Massey University food engineering, focusing on how foods are put together and their processes. During his work with the university, David was involved with managing a national training course for dairy factory workers and those who operate dairy factories throughout New Zealand. It was this work that gave David the incentive to return to manufacturing and work for NZMP.

While other manuals around dairy processing and ingredients exist, David believes nothing is quite so in-depth. Other manuals tend to be broader in scope, whereas David believes, the Recombined Reference is more focused. The Recombined Reference stands out above the rest with its extensive knowledge on processing conditions, ingredient selection, troubleshooting, shelf-life and implications.