€4m EU fund aims to help small and artisan food producers develop

Small dairy, meat, and bakery producers can now apply to participate in a €4m EU-funded training initiative to help them develop their business.

Food producers were given insights into the supports on offer via the Traditional Food, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Transfer training initiative at an event yesterday in Institute of Technology Tralee.

Helena McMahon, head of the initiative, Shannon ABC, at IT Tralee, said: “Many traditional, craft and artisan food producing SMEs do not have the resources or capability for research and innovation, absorption of emerging technologies, or opportunities to participate in collaborative projects with universities or research centres.

“The EU recognises the issue requires significant support, and this has been realised with the €4m investment in the Traditional Food, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Transfer.”

Dr McMahon yesterday said that food companies have a greater regional spread than any other manufacturing sector, with 1,100 food companies, more than 90% of which are SMEs. Traditional food produce represents a growing segment within the EU food market.

“A key aspect of this ambitious project is the regional engagement and supports that will be offered to the participating traditional and artisan food producing SMEs across Europe,” she said.

“The project will deliver a variety of impacts addressing the innovation skills gap in food research, promoting sustainability, facilitating technology acquisition, process upgrading and research co-operation, strengthening regional economies and the competitiveness of the traditional agri-food sector in Ireland and across Europe."