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APPLICATION: Dairy
CUSTOMER/COLLABORATION: Kold College - Scandinavia's only dairy school
COUNTRY: Denmark
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Proper sampling is important
Samples have long been taken, but sampling as an independent subject is still young. Strong collaboration helps the next generation get on track
There is nothing new in the fact that representative sampling is challenged in many liquid industries. The claim is that there is not a lack of knowledge about sampling processes, but that actual focus on sampling and proper equipment is missing. This means that you often unknowingly make a mistake.
However, there is no doubt that sampling plays an important role in the dairy industry:
“Proper sampling means a lot. If the sample is contaminated, it doesn't show the correct picture and then you end up making decisions on an incorrect premise,” says Tine Agentoft Feidenhans’l, dairy engineer and former teacher at Kold College, Scandinavia's only dairy school.
Sampling is subconsciously pushed into the background
Despite the importance of correct samples, sampling was not a major focus at the dairy engineering education that Tine Feidenhans'l attended:
“During my education, we did not have a subject that specifically focused on sampling. We learned about the different dairy processes, but not about how different sampling valves work. Therefore, I think there could be more focus on sampling,” she explains.
The lacking focus on sampling, both during education and in the industry, is, according to her, not due to a lack of knowledge on the subject. Instead, there are just other things that may seem more important, and therefore sampling is subconsciously pushed into the background:
“Sampling can quickly become a routine. Something you just do without thinking much about it. As long as it works, it's not a problem. It is only when things go wrong that you begin considering your sampling process,” says Tine Feidenhans’l.
It is only when things go wrong that you begin considering your sampling process
The new generation will do it differently
Fortunately, new winds are blowing in the dairy industry when it comes to sampling. Tine Feidenhans’l experienced this herself at Kold College, where she taught budding dairymen in a popular elective, which had correct sampling as one of the main topics.
And according to Tine Feidenhans'l, there is a really good reason why so many dairyman students are beginning to see the importance of the topic:
“I really think the students feel they can use it later on. They know that they will have to take samples in their internships, and later when they start working,” she explains.
Collaboration excites dairyman students
The popularity of the elective course may, according to Tine Feidenhans'l, also be attributed to Kold College's collaboration with Keofitt. It was a collaboration that came into place after Tine Feidenhans'l had spoken to her colleague Henrik Bossen, who recommended her to contact Keofitt.
The meeting culminated in a collaboration where students, as a regular part of the subject, visit Keofitt to learn about the latest methods in sterile sampling. At the same time, Keofitt has also visited Kold College several times to share their knowledge of the subject. According to Tine Feidenhans'l, it excites the students:
“Having an entire morning talking only about sampling really makes the students see how varied sampling can be,” she explains and adds with a twinkle in her eye:
“And as a dairyman, it doesn’t hurt that sampling is a topic that you can really nerd out on.”
- Tine Agentoft Feidenhans’l, dairy engineer and former teacher at Kold College