suggetion following the following remarks from Brendan Smith on Thursday, 4 March 2010
Quote "The Seafood Development Centre (SDC), which delivers on a key recommendation of the Government strategy ‘Steering a New Course’ seafood strategy 2007-2013, will support and provide industry with a commercially focused innovation and new product development capability. The SDC is managed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which has advised that 60 seafood companies have used or are using the innovation facility since its launch in October last year.
BIM’s integrated business development and innovation programme which includes the SDC can assist industry to achieve a shift to value-added and over a five year period, aims to achieve €100 million in additional value-added seafood sales. BIM see significant potential for value-added produce in terms of seafood health and wellness benefits, consumer friendly packaging and convenient ready meals, organic seafood and optimising by-products from fish processing.
The SDC is a bespoke facility which was provided by the Office of Public Works as an integrated part of the decentralised complex of co - located offices for BIM the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the fisheries divisions of the Department of Agriculture , Fisheries and Food in Clonakilty and the costs are the responsibility of that Office. The SDC is particular to the seafood sector and other developments and facilities are available to the broader agrifood industry".
Regarding the new product development activities proposed by BIM in the SDC, integrate these activities as much as possible with ongoing R&D programmes in third level and research agencies, in particular Teagasc. Technologies used for beef, chicken, pork, dairy, fruit and vegetables can be used to add value to seafood products and rather than re-invent the wheel and duplicate research that has already been carried out for other food types, hundreds of thousands of euros could be saved by incorporating seafood R&D into funding calls from which seafood has traditionally been excluded e.g. FIRM. This will allow the seafood sector to tap-into wider food industry knowledge already in existence.
By tapping into the existing R&D infrastructure to be found throughout Ireland, BIM can focus on business development and commercialisation activities and can streamline resources by not having to become involved in research (very costly). Allowing institutions with a proven track record to "adopt" seafood research will ensure scientific excellence and interactions between research institutions and BIM will help produce graduates with commercially-relevant skillsets and knowledge of industry problems.
As many other agencies currently service the marine sector (EI, Bord Bia, UnaG, BIM, MI, Enterprise Boards etc), define cross agency projects which will achieve best value for money and most effective use of existing resources. Ensure research outputs are of relevance to marine stakeholders and all agencies with a vested interest in the seafood sector meet on a regular basis to discuss how to best service the sector.
Consideropening theSDC facility in Clonakilty to wider food industry (beef, ready-meals, poultry etc) andassist DAFFin developing comprehensive programmes between member agencies; especiallyTeagasc/BIM/Bord Bia toservicelocalfood companies. Expand this model using othersimilar facilities throughout Ireland (Dublin, Galway/Sligo etc) to apply a catchment area approach.
PB march 2010