The annual EWPA Conference and General Assembly took place at the historic Zamek Gniew Castle in Poland, hosted by Polmlek Group. As EWPA / EDA Whey Flash reports, the industry elected a new president and discussed key trends shaping the global whey market.
Members elected Benno van Mersbergen (Director Whey Partnerships, Royal FrieslandCampina Ingredients) as the new EWPA President. “With global demand for whey continuing to grow, this is both an exciting and challenging time for our industry,” he said. He thanked outgoing President James Neville for two years of dedicated leadership.
The opening session, led by host Polmlek Group — Poland’s largest privately-owned dairy company — showcased the strength of the Polish dairy and whey industry. Analysts noted that EU milk production is gradually shifting from West to East due to environmental constraints in western regions — a clear signal to “Go East, dairyman.” Poland is one of the EU’s fastest-growing milk producers, with the highest share of farmers under 35 of any EU member state.
McKinsey & Company presented research on cost pressures, protein trends and AI in 2026, confirming that protein continues to lead consumer demand trends. On the global stage, the Latin American whey protein market — valued at $663m in 2024 — is projected to reach $1.19bn by 2033. In the US, the sector remains strong, though there are growing signs the industry may be approaching “peak whey.”
The science session highlighted innovations including the hidden potential of galactose derived from lactose, and a bioactive hydrolysed whey protein developed at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile with benefits for patients with hypertension.
Source: EWPA / EDA Whey Flash
