The Irish agriculture and food development authority, Teagasc, and University College Cork (UCC) has outlined plans to share resources, work to a joint research programme and establish a one-stop shop for food companies to access international quality research and innovation.
Michael Dowling, chairman of the UCC/Teagasc strategic alliance committee, believed that the partnership would be significant to the expansion of the food industry and could provide future economic growth to the nation.
Teagasc said additional benefits included the prospect of sharing research infrastructure and facilities, such as the pilot scale food processing facilities at Moorepark and Teagasc Ashtown, the UCC processing hall and the new PRTLI -supported GMP manufacturing facility at UCC.
The partners identified three key areas at the alliance launch at UCC on Friday: food science and technology, food and health, and food and the consumer
Economic importance
Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD said the union would "ensure that Irish food companies have improved access to excellent scientific capability, facilities and critical mass that will support the delivery of products, processes and jobs for the Irish economy".
Teagasc director Gerry Boyle believed future studies produced by the alliance would be of "international significance" and enhance the flow of new information to the Irish food industry to benefit consumers and taxpayers.
"It is anticipated that a deeper relationship will bring new and additional resources to both partners through new programmes, efficiencies and resource-use optimisation," he said.
A history of cooperation
Over the last 10 years, Teagasc and UCC have benefited to the tune of over 80 million from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through the FIRM programme which resulted in over 250 joint peer-reviewed publications
The new alliance does not mark the first time the two organisations have worked closely with one another. Past collaborations led to the creation of internationally recognised food research programmes including the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) and the Enterprise Ireland-funded Food for Health Ireland (FHI).