THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
Related Articles
The balance of power in the global dairy industry is shifting rapidly. Once regarded as a low-value by-product of cheese production, whey has now become one of the sector’s most strategic and high-value-added components. Rising global demand is placing this type of protein at the centre not only of sports nutrition but also of general consumer trends.
August 2026…
In particular, the trend towards high-protein diets and the increased protein requirements of individuals using GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1)-based weight-management medicines are driving up demand for whey protein significantly. Whilst this surge in demand is pushing prices to record levels, it is also placing significant pressure on the supply side.
Whey is rewriting the rules…
The most striking transformation in the sector is taking place in the revenue model of cheese producers. For many producers today, whey has become a more profitable product than cheese itself. This situation is leading to a reshaping of production strategies.
Investment plans worth billions of dollars are being rolled out worldwide to meet the rising demand. Whey processing capacity is being expanded across numerous regions, from New Zealand to Europe and from India to the US. Major dairy companies are expanding their production infrastructure to gain a competitive edge in this high-margin sector.
However, this transformation also brings certain risks. As whey production is linked to cheese production, rising demand for whey could indirectly boost cheese production as well. This, in turn, raises the risk of a cheese supply surplus in the market…
