World-first process keeps milk fresh for 60 days

A scientist in Queensland has developed a world-first alternative to pasteurisation, extending the shelf life of fresh milk from about 14 to 60 days.

Jeff Hastings, from Naturo on the Sunshine Coast, has been given the all clear from industry regulators to set up a factory in Queensland, Victoria, or Tasmania.

He won’t reveal exactly how the milk is treated but says it doesn’t involve heat and kills bacteria without killing vitamins and enzymes.

Previously, the short shelf life of milk has largely prevented the state from cashing in on export markets such as Asia.

“(A longer shelf life) allows us to get into foreign markets that are currently hard to access or impossible to access,” he said.

Ross Hopper from Maleny Dairies agreed there’s an export market for Australian milk.

“We've dabbled in (exporting milk) a bit but we haven't been able to get any volume out of it so it hasn't been economical for us,” he said.

“Any new way of getting milk out into the market and export... it sounds good.”