Michigan Milk Producers Association and Canadian Dairy Distillery announced an initiative that will transform a dairy byproduct called permeate into ethanol, adding to the biofuel supply for cars and trucks.

MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio explains that Ontario-based Dairy Distillery developed technology to transform a lactose-rich dairy byproduct, called milk permeate into vodka, aptly named Vodkow. This high value use of milk permeate caught the attention of MMPA whose Constantine, MI facility produces 14,000 tons a year that’s being used for animal feed. Looking to create more value for its dairy farmer members, MMPA partnered with Dairy Distillery to build a plant to process its milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol a year or 6,000 per day.

When blended in E10 (most common type of fuel which is 10 percent ethanol), it will make 60,000 gallons of fuel a day. Using an average tank size of 13 gallons, it's enough to fill 4,615 cars a day.

Construction on the ethanol plant is expected to begin in a few months. Ethanol is expected to be produced by early 2025.

Diglio says this partnership an be a blueprint for other dairy organizations across the nation to innovate and enter new markets.

Michigan Milk Producers Association and Canadian Dairy Distillery announced an initiative that will transform a dairy byproduct called permeate into ethanol, adding to the biofuel supply for cars and trucks.
MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio explains that Ontario-based Dairy Distillery developed technology to transform a lactose-rich dairy byproduct, called milk permeate into vodka, aptly named Vodkow. This high value use of milk permeate caught the attention of MMPA whose Constantine, MI facility produces 14,000 tons a year that’s being used for animal feed. Looking to create more value for its dairy farmer members, MMPA partnered with Dairy Distillery to build a plant to process its milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol a year or 6,000 per day.
When blended in E10 (most common type of fuel which is 10 percent ethanol), it will make 60,000 gallons of fuel a day. Using an average tank size of 13 gallons, it's enough to fill 4,615 cars a day.
Construction on the ethanol plant is expected to begin in a few months. Ethanol is expected to be produced by early 2025.
Diglio says this partnership an be a blueprint for other dairy organizations across the nation to innovate and enter new markets.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

Join Pam Jahnke for the latest farm news. Heard daily on WOZN 96.7 FM and 1670 AM in Madison Wisconsin from 5-6am. Also heard on affiliate stations all over Wisconsin.

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