Research and development vital for food industry to thrive, says Coughlan

THE food industry, without investment in research and development, will be outstripped and outpaced by others who already possess the necessary research capability to meet consumer demands for products that confer health benefits, Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan warned yesterday.

She was officially opening a new €5.3 million Teagasc biotechnology centre, featuring five high-grade laboratories to accommodate about 40 researchers, and conference rooms at Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork. Ms Coughlan said health concerns are a major influencing factor on consumers and functional foods are forecast to become one of the key drivers of growth within the sector.

The well-being and vibrancy of the agri-food industry is heavily dependant on being continually and rapidly responsive to the realities of consumer demand.

“Lifestyle changes have engendered an epidemic of diet-related health issues which is driving increasing demand for food that confer health benefits.

She said the Government is very committed to supporting R&D investment and to building the knowledge economy. It recently established a Cabinet sub-committee on research, to drive the R&D agenda forward.

Ms Coughlan said Teagasc Moorepark is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and a corps of researchers with an international reputation for excellence.

Moorepark head of biotechnology Dr Paul Ross said the most advanced techniques are employed at the centre. Moorepark food research centre head Dr Liam Donnelly said the programme of the new laboratories will be part of an overall increase in emphasis at Moorepark on research in the area of foods for health.