This initiative is officially launched today. The objective is to develop market led product concepts that can be manufactured by IDB members and marketed internationally by the IDB.
The initiative is a response to the IDB’s medium-term plans to maximise the expansion opportunities that will be created for the Irish dairy sector when the European Union abolishes milk quotas in 2015, and the government’s Food Harvest 2020 Report.
This partnership is a vital part of the IDB’s strategy to increase the added value element of Irish dairy exports, and Teagasc’s strategy to support innovative research by commercial Irish food companies.
Since September 2010, both the IDB and Teagasc have undertaken a market led, collaborative development programme on cheese and this is progressing positively with four new cheese product concepts currently being developed.
Following the establishment of a successful working relationship between both parties, this collaboration is now being formalised in the establishment of the IDB Dairy Innovation Centre at the Teagasc Food Centre, Moorepark.
The collaboration brings together the intellectual knowledge and technical product development expertise of the Teagasc Food Research Centre, the pilot scale, test equipment and production capacity of Moorepark Technology Limited and the IDB’s 50 years of international marketing and consumer expertise, as well as the IDB’s brands and route to market infrastructure.
Product concepts will be scaled up for commercialisation with IDB members and will be marketed internationally by the IDB.
The IDB Dairy Innovation Centre is commercially focused on developing new valued added dairy products that will deliver consumer benefits such as improved taste, flavour, functionality and nutritional content. The initial focus will be on a range of cheeses, and this will extend to other dairy products.
The programme will have a full-time staff of five people supported by four Teagasc scientists, and by the IDB’s international marketing and commercial teams.
Source: Teagasc
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