Institute of Dairy Science and Probiotics (IML-PRO) is the central Slovenian institution for research, teaching and professional activities in the field of dairy and probiotics. From the very beginning, the institute activities included research, teaching (Chair of Dairy Science) and development in the field of production, processing and quality control of milk and dairy products. Today, we are mostly dealing with modern technological processes of fermented dairy products, bacteriocins from lactic-acid bacteria, probiotics, development of functional products and dietary supplements, development of modern analytical methods and control of chemical, microbiological and sensory quality of milk and milk products. An important part of the research presents the study of the role of nutrition, human milk and probiotics on human intestinal microbiota.
The Laboratory of IML-PRO is neutral laboratory that performs accredited (LP-062) and non-accredited tests for any clients in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and the applicable law. Laboratory collaborates with similar institutions in Slovenia and abroad. Since 1967 as part of the educational activities of the Institute of Dairy Science, exercises for students of the Biotechnical Faculty, undergraduate, master's theses and doctoral degrees were performed in our laboratory. The first research and development work in the field of standardization of analytical methods and procedures were also performed in our laboratory.
From 1996 the laboratory is appointed as the National Reference Laboratory of International control of animal recording – ICAR, to carry out specific tasks for the certification tasks for the validation of a husbandry program in cattle farming.
The activities of IML-PRO thus include:
- Physical and chemical analysis of milk and milk products;
- Microbiological analysis of milk and milk products;
- Analysis of probiotic products;
- Analysis of water, smear and other materials;
- Calibration samples and Proficiency testing;
- Implementation of professional training;
- Research in the field of dairy science and technology;
- Educational activities within the Chair of Dairy Science.