Unlocking the Health Potential of Milk

Speaking at the functional food session at the ABIC Conference in Cork, Professor Liam Donnelly, Head of Food Research in Teagasc, described the way in which functional food research is reshaping dairy science.

He said “biotechnology is producing powerful tools for unlocking the true health promoting properties of milk and for development of new bioactive ingredients and functional foods with scientific and clinical validations.”

Teagasc is investing heavily in these new sciences and has ambitious aims to drive innovations in functional foods from a strong scientific base, in partnership with University College Cork, with which it has already an established relationship through the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC).

The importance of functional foods in the development plans for the Irish food industry is recognized. Enterprise Ireland are funding a major initiative in milk derived bioactive ingredients, involving public research institutions and leading Irish dairy companies, with an investment of €22 million over five years.

Together with Teagasc’s own investment and the related public research initiative, over €80 million is being invested in functional food research. Professor Donnelly said that this investment is placing Ireland at the forefront of functional food innovation and is generating a new momentum in public funded research that has direct relevance to competitiveness.

The ABIC conference hosted by Teagasc at University College Cork concludes today.