(NAFB) – The dairy checkoff announced a five-year collaboration with Mayo Clinic to explore research and consumer outreach efforts to improve public health and advance dairy’s benefits.

The memorandum of understanding with Mayo involves Dairy Management Inc., the National Dairy Council, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “This is a milestone moment for dairy farmers who made this possible through their century-long commitment to research and dairy nutrition,” says DMI CEO Barbara O’Brien. The collaboration will research how dairy foods, particularly whole milk, impact cardiovascular health and metabolism.

Other potential research areas include dairy’s impact on sleep, digestive health, and immunity. Content created by the collaboration will help debunk dairy myths and help consumers maintain confidence in dairy foods, farms, and businesses. “This collaboration illustrates the checkoff’s consumer-first focus and our commitment to leading with credible science,” says DMI Chair and Pennsylvania dairy farmer Marilyn Hershey. The collaboration will get incorporated across all four Mayo Clinic campuses.