# Trends and Opportunities in the Dairy Industry: A2 Milk and Processing Methods
## 2 Global Market and General Trends  
The current world-produced milk comes predominantly from cows (83%) [15]. According to the latest 2023 data, the largest producer of cow's milk in the world was the European Union (the sum of 27 countries in the community), with a production of 143 million metric tons, followed by the United States, with 104.1 million metric tons, and in third place was India with a production of 99.5 million metric tons [16]. From 2015 to 2023, the total world production of cow's milk increased from 496.84 million metric tons to 549.48 million metric tons, and the overall global production trend has been rising for years, which is likely to continue in the next years [17; 18; 19]. However, it is essential to note the developing trends in the dairy industry: growing consumer awareness and expectations of ethics and sustainable production practices, voices denying the desirability of sourcing milk in the face of the growing availability of plant-based products, and, in the future, possibly synthetic milk [20]. Milk is a valuable commodity not only as an unprocessed product, with the highest consumption in liquid form in 2023 reported in India at 87,450 metric tons, the European Union at 23,650 metric tons, and the United States at 20,900 metric tons, but also as a base for the production of highly nutritious food and intermediate products [21; 22]. Milk powders with versatile properties and functionality (milk protein concentrates--MPCs and milk protein isolates--MPIs) are valuable to the industry for their pleasant taste and high nutritional value. They are increasingly used to enrich dairy products not only for technological reasons, but also for consumer expectations. This is possible thanks to the physicochemical characteristics of milk proteins (caseins) and the essential amino acids that make them complete proteins (and their peptides). They also provide the amino acids and amino groups necessary for the biosynthesis of endogenous amino acids [23; 24]. In the past, milk production was carried out on small farms and animals remained in contact with humans. Since industrial revolution technology allowed for relentless increasesin production efficiency, dairying has become an industry dominated by corporations, intensifying possible profits [20]. Increasing interest in A2 milk may have economic and environmental benefits, causing a rebalancing between the relevance of corporate and smaller producers. The mere stimulation of farmers and producers to diversify their offerings counteracts the phenomenon of dairy market homologous, which translates into increased income for small farms, often located in unfavorable places, and allows them to compete with larger suppliers. This allows diversification and provides stability in the milk market, making it possible to guarantee a decent living for farmers and respond to the needs of consumers and their right to access quality and safe food. This will enable more sustainable production that ensures animal's well-being on the formerly prevailing terms of human-animal relations. The implication is that A2 milk is produced by cows from \"traditional\" breeds, most of which are found in areas not affected by industrialization [25]. Such an approach would also enable the spread of milk from pasture-grazed cows (this is more popular on small and medium-sized farms), which is beneficial for ethical and environmental reasons, and there are reports of changes in the nutritional value of milk and its flavor in favor of that from pasture-grazed cows [26]. It is necessary to consider the limitations of A2-type milk production volume. Cows from breeds that produce it have a slightly lower yield than the most popular current breeds and are not commonly bred for this reason. Their maintenance is thus associated with higher costs. However, it allows an increase in biodiversity among the animals [27]. In addition, it should be noted that no thesis on the impact of A2-type milk on human health is confirmed and accepted as correct.