Dairy giant Mengniu Group will focus on advancing basic, functional, and medical nutrition as three strategic growth pillars to drive innovation and high-quality development in China's dairy industry, President Gao Fei announced at the 2026 World Dairy Industry Conference in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Gao said Mengniu plans to establish a three-level research system and promote open innovation by sharing research platforms, microbial resources, and processing technologies with industry partners.

In the basic nutrition segment, Mengniu is broadening its range of lactose-free dairy products for China's estimated 660 million lactose-intolerant consumers through its proprietary EHT enzyme hydrolysis technology.

The company is also increasing investment in value-added dairy products, including cheese, butter, and cream, while expanding access to quality dairy products in lower-tier markets through its nationwide supply chain.

For functional nutrition, Gao said the dairy industry is entering the era of precision nutrition, with research-driven products tailored to specific health needs. Mengniu's M-PLUS high-protein milk, developed after eight years of research, contains 12 grams of natural milk protein per 100 milliliters.

The company has also expanded its sports nutrition portfolio and introduced nutritional products for middle-aged and older adults targeting mobility, blood sugar, gut health, and cardiovascular health.

Medical nutrition has become another strategic priority as demand for specialized nutritional solutions grows.

Mengniu's Tekangrui facility is Inner Mongolia's first independently designed factory for infant foods for special medical purposes (FSMP). Ruibao'an, China's first domestically developed FSMP formula for infants with phenylketonuria, secured approval under China's updated national standard.

Mengniu has also expanded research into adult health management. Its proprietary blood glucose-regulating probiotic strain Lc19 was published in the journal Cell in 2025 and has since been commercialized in a range of probiotic products.