The Beijing government will invest 10.78 million yuan (US$1.72 million) in a baby formula research program conducted by the Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co. Ltd., the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Monday.

This will be the first time a Chinese government department has funded a commercial baby formula program.

The three-year program will include an analysis of breast milk composition, a study on nutrition and the metabolic process, and tracking of the effects of feeding babies formula. Beijing Sanyuan will invest more than 10 million yuan in addition to the government funds.

Due to the melamine milk scandal in 2008, buying baby formula from abroad is popular among young Chinese parents. The domestic market is also dominated by foreign brands.

In 2008, authorities found that melamine, a chemical that causes kidney stones, was added to baby formula to make it seem richer in protein. The tainted milk powder claimed the lives of six infants and sickened tens of thousands of children. Beijing Sanyuan is the only listed dairy producer not involved in the scandal.

According to the Beijing government's 2014 budget plan, the formula research program funding will be much greater than funding for unmanned aerial vehicles and all-electric vehicles research.

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