Dr Nico van Belzen is Director General at ScienceConsult, The Netherlands. He is also former Director General of the International Dairy Federation (IDF), Belgium. He has occupied senior roles in both industry and research organisations, both as Head of the Research and Analysis department at the ingredients division of Campina and as Executive Director of the European Branch of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). Dr van Belzen is editor of two earlier Burleigh Dodds Science volumes: Achieving sustainable production of milk Volume 1: Safety, quality and sustainability and Achieving sustainable production of milk Volume 2: Milk composition, genetics and breeding (both published in 2017).