Food industry comes centre stage with Nutraceutical Research Facility

IRELAND has taken a step closer to its food innovation ambitions with the opening of Teagasc’s new Nutraceutical Research Facility in the Ashtown Food Research Centre, Dublin.

The advanced level facility will bring the food industry centre stage, and help Ireland deliver on its goal of reaching its target of raising R&D spending to 3% of GDP by 2020. It will also align the food sector to research fields such as health and science, as well as green fuels and technologies.

Launching the event, European Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: “To launch a hi-tech, state-of-the-art research facility at this time demonstrates faith; faith in the future of the Irish agri-food sector and faith in Ireland’s talents in research and science as a springboard to growth and jobs. The agri-food industry was at the cutting edge of innovation before the word innovation became part of the language of economic recovery. This is the sector that brought us plant sterols several years ago. I think it is fantastic that, if I need to, I can reduce my ‘bad’ cholesterol levels through diet rather than having to take medication. I believe this innovative agri-food industry will thrive and grow within the Innovation Union.”