(Reuters). Fonterra, a New Zealand dairy giant, said Thursday it had signed a partnership with VitaKey, a U.S.-based biotech company. The goal of the deal is to examine ways to preserve nutrients and freshness in products containing probiotic strains.

Fonterra released a statement saying it wanted to develop dairy products with controlled release of dairy nutrients. This would include probiotics, which Fonterra claims will keep dairy fresher and more active. The financial details of the partnership were not disclosed by Fonterra.

This cooperation agreement comes at a time when global supply chain disruptions have highlighted the importance of extending the shelf life and maintaining product nutrition. As people adapt to a lifestyle that includes extended periods of work or stay at home, the coronavirus epidemic has raised concerns about healthy eating habits.

Fonterra’s Asia-Pacific regional chief executive officer, Judith Swales stated that they can drive their ‘Active Living’ business by appealing more to the health-conscious consumer group who want the best functional foods.

Swales explained that because the nutrients have been encapsulated and are very targeted it means that we can produce less milk. This allows us to make our milk more efficient while also reducing food waste.

VitaKey’s Nutrient Platform is built on technology licensed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and developed by Langer Lab.