With an investment of approximately 150,000 USD, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the Agency for the Regulation and Control of Phytosanitary Issues and Animal Health (Agrocalidad) opened this week the milk quality control area of ​​the Agrocalidad Rapid Diagnostic Laboratory in the province of Cotopaxi.

This, with the aim of paying attention to the demands of the milk production sector and the dairy industry in the central part of the country. Cotopaxi is the third province that produces the most milk in the entire country, with a total of more than 600,000 liters per day.

Agrocalidad received Fusarium Race 4 diagnostic equipment

The purpose of the laboratory is to verify the safety and quality of milk produced in this area of ​​Ecuador. The technology counts on 2,000 annual samples estimated to reach this point.

Minister Eduardo Izaguirre indicated that this laboratory will be crucial for the benefit of small and medium producers, dairy industries, collection centers and transporters in the provinces of Bolívar, Cotopaxi, Pastaza, Tungurahua, Los Ríos and Chimborazo.

The analyzes that will be carried out in this area will serve to assess the quality of raw milk, based on the verification of the requirements established in the INEN 9 standard, such as milk composition (fat, proteins, dry matter), quality health (presence of microorganisms and somatic cells), the presence of contaminants and impurities (serum, starches, sugars, antibiotic residues, among others).

For his part, Patricio Almeida, CEO of Agrocalidad, highlighted the support that this area will mean for the academic sector and various research activities in the dairy sector.