Over 1.6 million tonnes of Irish dairy products are shipped to around 140 markets worldwide, according to Bord Bia.

The milk produced by Irish farmers ends up in a wide variety of products on shelves throughout the world.

A category with a particularly high pace of growth is sports nutrition.

Targeted mainly at athletes, protein supplement products such as whey 'protein powders' have become a staple in the diets of many.

Along with the nutritional side, these products are made attractive for consumers with flavours available ranging from vanilla, strawberry and chocolate to peanut butter, cinnamon and 'birthday cake'.

Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) told Agriland that functional protein products like life-stage and nutrition from whey and casein are "transforming the dairy industry" both in Ireland and abroad.

"They are offering vital health benefits and enhancing performance for a global population which is increasingly looking for clean nutrition from natural dairy products," DII said.

"Innovation and investment are key to staying competitive and realising the immense potential of functional proteins."

To achieve that goal, the industry in Ireland must "stay on top" of what its advantages are - high food safety and grass-fed quality, according to DII.

"Irish farmers and the dairy industry must embrace these changes to meet the evolving demands of global consumers," DII said.

"The importance of the functional protein category cannot be overstated; it is crucial for the future of Irish dairy and the broader Irish economy."

Milk is rich in protein - mainly casein and whey.

What primarily differentiates casein and whey is their digestion rate. Casein is a slower release and takes longer to digest while whey is absorbed faster.

They both derive from the cheese-making process.

The National Dairy Council (NDC) explains that milk contains all of the essential amino acids, which are the "building blocks of protein, that our body needs".

Whey proteins are a collection of globular proteins.

"Whey is produced when milk is separated into solid curds and liquid whey, like when making cheese," the NDC told Agriland. 

"Whey proteins account for about 20% of the total protein in cow’s milk (about 0.65g/100ml). 

"Whey is particularly high in the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) leucine, which nutrition research recognises for its role in building muscle.

"For these reasons, whey protein has been recognised for its role in performance nutrition and is a valuable ingredient in the sports nutrition industry."

Caseins make up approximately 80% of the protein fraction in cow’s milk.

"They are an important component of cow’s milk as they stabilise and transport essential nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus," the NDC said.

The NDC told Agriland that generally, "all of the energy and nutrients we need can be provided by a healthy, balanced diet – with no need for supplement use unless a deficiency is identified".

"Protein is an important nutrient for sports people as it contributes to muscle growth and maintenance," the NDC said.

"Athletes may find protein supplements useful and convenient on occasions where food sources are not readily available or if there is little time between sessions, e.g. a tournament.

"If training at a competitive or intense level, a sports dietitian can offer advice on supplement use depending on individual needs.

"For those under the age of 18 years, supplements are not advised and all nutrient needs should be met from dietary intakes."

Bord Bia has confirmed to Agriland that it is currently collaborating with the dairy industry on research aiming to broaden understanding of the specialised nutrition category, in the Japanese market particularly.

This is with a "view to ascertaining what potential Irish dairy solutions may be a complementary fit now, and into the future, for our Japanese dairy partners".

“Nutritionally dense and highly functional dairy products and ingredients from Ireland are exported all over the world and incorporated widely in clinical, sports and life-stage nutrition applications as well as within the nutraceutical category," a Bord Bia spokesperson said.

"Products including demineralised whey powder, whey protein isolates and hydrolysates and casein powders, offer very specific and functional benefits to applications within these categories and contribute significantly to the value-add portfolio within the Irish dairy sector."