Local connection: New milk company director Gill Burke grew up in the Goulburn Valley.
A new infant milk powder start-up company is sourcing its milk exclusively from the Goulburn Valley.
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The directors of the Beta A2 Australia company include Gill Burke (nee Warren), who grew up on a St Germains dairy farm and attended Lancaster Primary School and Kyabram Secondary College, before moving to Melbourne to study behavioural science.
Ms Burke, environmental scientist Mandy Agnew and exporter and fitness developer Anthony Scarcella launched the company in July, with three formulations of milk powder and a lactoferrin powder.
The privately owned and operated business based in Melbourne has been under development for two years, and got its Farmers Beta A2 brand of infant milk powder onto the shelves in July in pharmacies and independent supermarkets.
The powder is free from A1 beta casein, which some nutritionists say makes the milk more digestible.
Ms Burke said the new company wanted to provide quality nutritional products, support Australian farmers with a fair price, and support Rural Aid to build resilience in rural communities.
She was upset by the 2016 dairy price crash and concerned with the sporadic supply of infant formula in Australian supermarkets.
“If you find a product that your baby is happy with, you don’t want to find out you can’t get it at the shop,” Ms Burke said.
On the shelf: The new milk powder products.
“Milk powders were running out because the daigou (Chinese shopping agent network) channels were taking it up.”
She said the company would give priority to domestic supply.
At the same time Ms Burke discovered a large share of Australian consumption was coming from imported powders.
“We think Australian farmers should be able to share in that market.
“Being raised in the Goulburn Valley, I respect and appreciate the often harsh life of farmers, being at the mercy of weather and global markets.
“I believe the best assistance we can give to them is to support their business, which then flows through to their mental health, families and the rural communities.”
Ms Burke is the daughter of Jack and Dorothy Warren. She moved to Melbourne to study at University of Melbourne and married Peter Burke. They have a son, Matthew.
She said the company would source its milk from the Goulburn Valley and has contracted one herd so far. They intend to expand their supply base as the business grows.
Ms Burke acknowledged they were starting a business in one of the most highly regulated food sectors in Australia.
“So it should be. We are dealing with babies’ health. Nothing is more precious,” she said.
“It’s also good to know that because it is so highly regulated, buying an Australian product you know you are getting the best that science can produce for a baby.”
Ms Burke agreed breast milk was best for infants, but she said there had to be a healthy alternative for mothers who couldn’t breastfeed for a variety of reasons.
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