A key driver of Irelands national economy is the food sector. It contributes extensively to innovation, exports and employment. Ireland’s food industry has a strong reputation, particularly in producing high-quality, sustainably produced food. It is a dynamic industry, rapidly advancing due to technology advancements and changes in consumer demands including a greater desire for sustainability incorporated in processes and products.
For Irish businesses, food technology offers significant opportunities to innovate, expand into new markets and improve overall efficiency. The introduction of new, cutting-edge technology in recent years has enhanced all aspects of food, including food safety and significantly reducing waste. It is evident that food technology is revolutionising how food is produced, processed and delivered.
The Irish Food Technology Cluster plays a critical role in this success. The cluster brings together a wide range of expertise and knowledge and equipment. Which strengthens competitiveness and drives innovation in the sector. The cluster presents extensive resources for Research, Development, and Innovation projects tailored to the food industry. Key areas of expertise include bioprocessing, food for health, process control, and packaging amongst many others. The cluster enables Irish companies of all sizes to access expert knowledge and advanced technologies to upgrade food safety, enhance product quality, and drive innovation in response to market demands.
Key Areas of Food Technology in Ireland:
Agri-tech: Agricultural technology is ever evolving the food production process in Ireland, assisting farmers in improving efficiency and streamlining their processes. It also has the added benefit of reducing the environmental impact, a burning desire of consumers in today’s market. Innovations such as AI-driven analytics and smart sensors lead to higher yields and better resource management.
Food Processing: The food processing sector has had a huge impact on reducing costs and enhancing quality due to the sector taking advantage of automation and artificial intelligence. Integrating smart technologies into all elements of the production enhances Ireland food producers, from dairy processing to bakery businesses. Irish companies of all sizes within the Irish food Cluster work alongside technology partners and research institutions to implement these activities into their everyday processes. This assists firms in staying ahead of competitors in the marketplace.
Food Packaging: Reducing environmental impact is a key factor when it comes to packaging technology. The desires of consumers to be more sustainable in packaging process has lead to the introduction of cutting edge packing technology. Irelands food sector is at the forefront of sustainable packing innovations such as intelligent packing solutions. Improving food preservation and safety is integrated into these technologies in order to meet both market expectation and regulations.
Food Quality Control: Food safety and quality control are crucial in building and maintain a strong reputation for Ireland. Technologies can play a vital role in process and improving traceability.
Nutrition: Health and wellness are becoming an increasing priority to consumers all across Ireland. There is a driving demand for personalised nutrition and functional foods. Products enriched with added benefits and biotechnology processes that produce proteins and other nutrients has come to the forefront in today’s society.
Case studies:
Food Technology is without a doubt reshaping the Irish food technology sector. The Irish Food Tech Cluster provides a strong network enabling Irish businesses to grow and evolve. Irish businesses can gain a competitive edge by connecting with the cluster. Examples of successful case studies below highlight the benefits of taking advantage of the support network.
Reso Health- Based in Waterford, Reso Health is a Life Sciences company redefining the role of functional nutrition in the workplace. Reso Health are addressing the issue of poor nutrition in the workplace, and the resulting personal and professional costs. Alongside PMBRC’s support, Reso Health are developing nutritional supplement formulations that can be readily dispensed into drinks. Read more below:
Reso Health – Technology Gateways
Commercial Mushroom Producers- CMP (Commercial Mushroom Producers) is one of Europe’s leading horticultural producer organisations. Their business is focused on developing a quality, sustainable and competitive industry in Ireland
Centre for Applied Bioscience Research (CABR) provided a range of testing to quantify the composition of the compost for the company. These included biochemical, microbiological and analytical results. The combination of this information provided a blueprint for the company as to the characteristics of their compost prior, during and post growth. Read more below: