Construction of the Dairy Innovation West (DIW) facility in Lacombe County, Alberta is well underway and expected to open next spring. With a $75 million investment, this state-of-the-art milk concentration facility is set to elevate the Western Canadian dairy industry, bringing together sustainability, innovation, and economic growth in a meaningful way.
On October 15, 2024, representatives from Lacombe County and the Town of Blackfalds, alongside key project and industry stakeholders, toured the DIW site to see firsthand the progress and hear about the anticipated community benefits.
“Dairy Innovation West is proud to be investing in Lacombe County, and our partnerships with local government have been instrumental in making this project a reality,” said Henry Holtmann, Chair of Dairy Innovation West. “By working closely with the county, we’re not only strengthening local infrastructure but also creating a collaborative environment that supports both the dairy industry and regional growth.”
DIW is expected to generate new jobs, enhance local infrastructure, and contribute to economic development, with benefits that range from employment opportunities to increased tax revenue. Its strategic location in Lacombe County, a crucial area for dairy farming and transportation, provides an efficient and cost-effective outlet for Western Canadian dairy farmers, reducing transport costs and supporting local production.
Once operational, DIW will receive raw milk from Canadian dairy farms and use reverse osmosis to concentrate it, reducing water content and streamlining transportation. While similar facilities exist globally, DIW will be Canada’s first, setting a new standard for dairy innovation in the country.
“The tour of Dairy Innovation West marks an exciting milestone as we prepare for full production in spring 2025,” Holtmann added. “We look forward to sharing our progress and seeing the positive impact this facility will bring—not only to Lacombe County and the economy but also to Canada’s dairy industry as a whole.”
About Dairy Innovation West
Dairy Innovation West (DIW) is a milk concentration facility under construction in Lacombe County, AB. First of its kind in Canada, the $75 million facility is owned by the Dairy Industry Development Council, Alberta Milk, SaskMilk, and Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. The facility has two key strategic objectives: to support processing expansion in Western Canada and to reduce the western Canadian dairy industry’s environmental footprint and transportation costs through the concentration of liquid raw milk. This state-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to accommodate up to 300 million litres of milk per year and is set to open Spring 2025.