Research & Innovation

Teagasc, the agency that provides research, advisory and education in agriculture, horticulture, food and rural development, has launched a new Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Portfolio for the food industry.

With key collaborations such as the Food Innovation Alliance between Teagasc and UCC, Teagasc is building on this partnership, by collaborating with the food industry to deliver world-class science. Teagasc has invested in modern RD&I facilities and services to further support and strengthen Ireland’s growing agri-food and drinks industry and they offer a tailored service to industry in this regard.

Growing investment in research by industry

Research is recognised as the path to innovation and commercialisation and RD&I proactive companies have been shown to generate higher exports and sales. With a growing requirement to build on new markets outside of Europe and a growing interest from consumers to understand more about their food, innovation to continue to deliver safe, sustainably produced and nutritious food into extended markets will require continued RD&I. Enterprise Ireland’s RD&I funding programme assists companies in growing their sales and employment, via the development of new and/or improved products, processes and/or services.

A Taste of Teagasc RD&I Technologies for the food industry

Teagasc, with the support of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Enterprise Ireland, offers a service to industry, delivering RD&I in many areas, including food safety, shelf-life, nutrient value, residue monitoring, flavour profiling, sensory analysis (taste, smell, appearance), prepared consumer foods research, meat technologies and whey processing capabilities, to name but a few. Teagasc also offers state-of-the-art research infrastructure and pilot plant facilities in the areas of food technology, food for health and food safety. The suite of Teagasc RD&I technologies available are summarised in the newly published Teagasc Portfolio.

Who should contact/visit Teagasc to find out more about these technologies?

CEO’s and RD&I team leads from the meat, dairy, crop, fruit and artisan industries should contact Teagasc.

Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle said: “I am pleased to present Teagasc’s new Portfolio of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Services for Industry, entitled ‘Innovation through Collaboration-Our Science, Your Food’. This Portfolio provides just a flavour of the many Teagasc technologies and expertise available to the agri-food industry, government policy makers, retailers, food safety bodies etc. Our state-of-the-art research facilities and pilot plants at Teagasc Ashtown, Co. Dublin and Teagasc Moorepark, Co. Cork, facilitate new product development, examination of the feasibility of process up-scaling, process optimisation and final product testing.”