Teagasc Enhances Service to Small Food Companies
20 June 2008
An enhanced support service from Teagasc for artisan food and specialty food producers is being presented at the Teagasc Farmfest ‘08 event in Athenry, today Friday, 20 June.
Teagasc has recently recruited two new artisan food technologists, to provide additional support services to young emerging food companies. Sarah McSweeney is attached to Moorepark Food Research Centre and will support dairy-based companies while Carol Griffin, from Ashtown Food Research Centre will support meat-based small food companies.
Teagasc's artisan food specialist, Eddie O'Neill said that this will enhance and complement the existing support services already provided by Teagasc advisers. These include business planning, technical farm advice, business specialists, food specialists, direct selling courses, and food business courses, all of which are designed to assist innovative new businesses become established.
The speciality food market in Ireland is currently worth around €500 million annually from a base of 320 producers, and provides an estimated employment of 3,000 people. Artisan food offers an opportunity for farmers to diversify in an area where there is significant growth potential while also helping to retain rural dwellers in the countryside and improve rural prosperity. The European market for specialty foods is worth an estimated €33 billion and provides a unique opportunity for Irish producers.
The growth of farmers' markets in Ireland over the past decade has been quite extraordinary. With the assistance of local support organisations it is now worth in excess of €10 million annually.
Over 70 food companies representing some of the variety and quality of artisan foods available throughout Ireland are being displayed at Farmfest '08, including chocolates, cheese and crepes, from Donegal to Dingle and Louth to Limerick. This, coupled with an outdoor farmers' market with produce from throughout Ireland, will prove to be one of the biggest single food events to be held. Many of the companies are rural-based and are clear examples of the entrepreneurial spirit present in the countryside.
