The papers in this publication were presented at the International Dairy Federation (IDF)/Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) 5th International Symposium on Spray Dried Dairy Products, which marked the first collaboration on the topic between the IDF and the INRA.

Reflecting the increasing importance of spray drying, the symposium was a resounding success with close to 500 participants from 40 countries gathered in Saint-Malo, France, in June 2012. The event featured six sessions with 65 oral presentations and 64 posters, including new sessions on global trade of dairy powders, a commercial session for companies and a conference dedicated to nutrition and the nutritional impact of dairy powders.

This leading event brought together many stakeholders of the dairy chain and offered a unique platform for companies and research institutes to share their knowledge and experience. It also provided an opportunity for people involved in the field to engage in a frank and open discussion about innovative and efficient techniques being developed, progress achieved, and lessons learnt. The event will help the dairy sector meet the rising demand for spray drying capacity due to the growing world population and the anticipated increase in milk production and trade.

IDF would like to thank the authors and presenters of these papers whose contribution helped make this event an excellent showcase of this major area for the dairy sector and a valuable source of knowledge for the many participants. Their written contributions enable those who could not attend to learn about the latest research in this field.

IDF wishes to acknowledge the excellent collaboration with INRA in organizing the event. We express our sincere thanks to Dr. Pierre Schuck for his leading role in the organization and for collecting and collating these proceedings.

The next Spray Dried Dairy Products Symposium will take place in 2015 in Ireland. On behalf of IDF, I look forward to welcoming you all.