Students get teeth into meat project

The marketing of Irish meat will be a key focus of third year BSc food business students at UCC.

It follows the introduction of a new meat-marketing project sponsored by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA).

A bursary prize of €1,000 is being provided to the student who produces the best meat marketing report. The opportunity is being given to students taking a module centred on dairy and meat marketing and delivered by the Food Business and Development department at the college.

Focusing the minds of future food business executives on meat market realities and market opportunities is the aim of the project.

ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch said the association is delighted to encourage the brightest marketing graduates to be a driving force in the development of food production in Ireland.

He said research and marketing are the most important tools to develop the Irish meat industry.

The BSc food business degree offers students a unique blend of business, science and technology.

Lecturer Dr Séamus O’Reilly said tomorrow’s successful food business executives must know their business as well as science and technology to respond to market opportunities.

“The meat industry offers graduates great employment opportunities in product development and marketing.

“We are delighted, in conjunction with the ICSA, to provide our students with a practical insight into marketplace realities.”