Teagasc Announces Major Food Research Programme
Issued 6thJanuary 2001
The Director of Teagasc, Dr. Liam Downey, has announced a major expansion in the Teagasc food research and development programme resulting from additional funding under the National Development Plan.
Last week the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Joe Walshe, announced the allocation of £7.5m to Teagasc for the period 2001 - 2003, under the Food Institutional Research Measure, which is funded under the National Development Plan.
Welcoming the additional funding, Dr. Downey (Tuesday, 30th January) said it will enhance Teagasc's already extensive programme on food research which is underway at its two centres, the National Food Centre in Dublin and the Dairy Products Research Food Centre at Moorepark, Fermoy.
"This new funding will support 35 additional research projects at our two research centres. The projects are concentrating on the two key areas of food product innovation and food safety. In a number of the projects, our researchers will be collaborating with colleagues in the universities," he said.
Dr. Downey announced that a significant number of new scientists are being recruited by Teagasc to work on the expanded programme.
He said the additional investment in food research in Teagasc in the past five years has lead to a dramatic increase in the level of technological development and support for the Irish food industry.
"Our programme has resulted in significant advances in innovation in beef quality, food ingredients, cheese, consumer foods, functional foods and food safety," he said.
Dr. Downey has also announced that plans are well advanced for the new state of the art research facility at the Dairy Products Research Centre at Moorepark and the new food industry training facility at the National Food Centre. These facilities are being financed from the £25m investment programme announced last year by the government for new Teagasc research facilities.
"This, combined with the most recent injection of funding will ensure that the Irish food industry has world class food research facilities," he said.
