New Dairy Economist Begins Work on Behalf of Dairy Producers « Back

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In the two months since he officially began his work as a dairy economist with the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center, Marin Bozic (MAH rin BO zic) has traveled more than 5,000 miles getting to know the Midwest dairy industry.  The people and companies he’s met during those travels are providing the input he needs for his new job identifying and quantifying opportunities for dairy producers to capture economic benefits from the consumer market. 

Bozic is an assistant professor of dairy foods marketing economics in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, a position funded by dairy producers through Midwest Dairy Association.  He completed his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin in Madison just before he started work in August. A native of Croatia, Bozic was selected by a committee of Midwest dairy industry leaders last spring.  They had identified a void in the economic research available to the industry – one that could provide the economic analysis for developing and delivering dairy foods and ingredients to meet consumer needs, and drive dairy demand and consumption.

“The position is unique,” says Bozic.  “Dairy economists usually work on policy or milk production issues.  To my knowledge, this position is the only one actively working to find the right match between dairy products and ingredients, and the market.”

“We have many resources to help producers with the economics at home on the farm,” explains Ken Herbranson, chairman of Midwest Dairy Association’s Minnesota Division board and a dairy producer from Clitherall who served on the selection committee.  “What we didn’t have was a good model to help us know if we’re producing the right products and dairy ingredients.  We hope this new focus will help us to provide the economic analysis of these important market dynamics.”

Bozic is charged with capturing synergies between the work of the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center, various departments at the three universities connected to it (South Dakota State, Iowa State and the University of Minnesota), the industry and producers.  He’ll rely on an Economic Advisory Board to identify and prioritize issues, obtain research support and access, and evaluate results.