Training in artisanal cheeses expands opportunities for producers in Southern Rio de Janeiro State.

Course promoted by the Rio Mais Leite Project focuses on value addition to milk and technical qualification

Milk producers from the municipalities of Barra do Piraí and Paraíba do Sul participated, in September, in a training course on artisanal cheese processing promoted by the Rio Mais Leite Project.

The training is part of a broader set of actions aimed at strengthening dairy farming in the Southern Fluminense region, with a focus on improving quality, diversifying production, and expanding income opportunities in rural areas.

The initiative was developed by the Instituto BioSistêmico, with support from the Zoetis Foundation, and was distinguished by the use of the Mobile Cheese Dairy, an IBS itinerant unit fully equipped for hands-on dairy processing training.

During the course, participants received guidance on good hygiene practices, process standardization, quality control, and artisanal cheese production, as well as essential concepts to ensure food safety and enhance the value of the milk produced on the farms supported by the project.

“More than just transferring technical knowledge, the training aimed to present alternatives for adding value to dairy production, expanding marketing opportunities, and encouraging better use of milk,” explains veterinarian Isabelle Aiello, IBS consultant and coordinator of the training sessions.

Quality Milk and New Learning Experiences

Producer Elias Vitor Alves, from Paraíba do Sul, who has been part of the Rio Mais Leite Project since its inception, took part in the cheese-making course. For him, the training represents another step forward in the continuous qualification process promoted by the project.

“My greatest satisfaction was supplying the milk used for cheese production during the course, which demonstrates the quality of our product,” the producer reports.

According to Elias, the adjustments recommended throughout the technical assistance process have contributed to improving herd management and addressing the challenges of dairy farming. “Milk production requires a lot of investment, and often the financial return is limited. This technical qualification makes a real difference for those who depend on the activity, and learning cheese production expands our opportunities,” he adds.

Knowledge That Multiplies

The cheese-making course also attracted family members of producers involved in the project, further expanding knowledge dissemination. Rosa Lima, sister of producers from Paraíba do Sul, highlighted the importance of the experience.

“I came to learn good practices in cheese production, and it was an enriching experience. I learned new techniques and gained knowledge that I can apply in my own production,” she says.

Strengthening the Dairy Value Chain

According to veterinarian Matheus Henrique Magalhães, Technical Coordinator for Livestock Projects at IBS, training in artisanal cheese processing reinforces the Rio Mais Leite Project’s commitment to strengthening the regional dairy value chain by integrating production, quality, technical assistance, and value addition.

“By qualifying producers and their families, the project contributes to more efficient and sustainable systems with greater income-generating potential in rural areas,” Magalhães highlights.

About the Rio Mais Leite Project

Designed and implemented by the Instituto BioSistêmico, the Rio Mais Leite Project is funded by the Zoetis Foundation and focuses on the development of dairy farming in 100 family-based dairy farms located in the southern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The initiative includes technological assistance actions organized into four main areas: good practices, reproductive management, nutritional management, sanitary management, and good practices in artisanal cheese processing.

The project uses the CheckMilk methodology, which includes a digital platform with a management system and a mobile application to support the work of technical teams and producers, providing continuous support for farm routines.