Teagasc provides expertise, training and practical support to people considering starting a food business, as well as established food companies looking to develop products, solve technical challenges or scale production.
Deirdre Kennedy, Artisan and Small Food Sector Specialist from the Teagasc Food Industry Development Team, talks about the opportunities for artisanal food production as a way for food producers to add value to their existing farm enterprises, with advice and support available from Teagasc.
The Teagasc Farm Business Options Programme helps farmers and farm families explore opportunities to diversify and generate additional income.
The free programme includes workshops, farm visits, mentoring and networking, as well as guidance on developing a business idea and identifying relevant grants and supports.
Explore the Farm Business Options Programme.
Teagasc provides practical training for food businesses through our Food Research Centres at Moorepark, Fermoy, Cork and Ashtown, Dublin.
Courses cover areas including product development, sensory analysis, food microbiology and specialist food production. Bespoke in-company training and consultancy options are also available.
Our training helps food businesses develop technical skills, support innovation and respond to industry requirements.
View Food Industry Training Courses here.
Watch recorded food industry webinars.
Businesses can access specialist facilities to develop, test and scale food and beverage products.
Explore our pilot plant facilities:
Discover how food businesses have worked with Teagasc to develop products, overcome technical challenges and grow their businesses.
View all food industry case studies
Our practical factsheets provide guidance on common topics for new and developing food businesses.
Other organisations also provide funding, regulatory guidance, business advice and training for artisan and small food businesses in Ireland.
Developing a concept for a product in to a high quality, safe food that appeals to consumers, can seem like a difficult task. However, Teagasc, with its extensive pilot scale and development facilities in Dublin and Cork, offers services to assist and support companies in their product development j
