ASA Conference 2014
Friday 12 September
Importance of Innovation Support for Small Food
Companies Stressed
The need for easier access by small and medium sized food companies to product
development skills has been stressed by Larry Murrin, chief executive of Dawn Farms.
Addressing the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) conference in Naas, Mr Murrin, who is
also incoming president of IBEC, said small and medium companies will be key engines of
growth in the food industry and generators of new jobs.
“Ensuring they have access to the necessary innovation supports is a challenge for the food
research institutes and the universities,” he said.
He said Ireland has now a super cadre of food scientists, in Teagasc and the universities.
This has contributed to a transformation of the Irish food industry from a commodity
producer to an industry focused on value-added.
“Twenty years ago, we were producing primary products and allowing others in export
markets to mine them for the added value and profit. We have become much better at
adding value at home and, consequently, a lot of new industries have developed,” he said.
He said Dawn Farms, which was established in Dublin 30 years ago, has evolved into the
leading manufacturer of cooked and fermented ingredients in Europe. It supplies
ingredients to some of the leading food companies in the world.
“Our Meat Science and Innovation Centre in Naas, developed at a cost of €6m and opened
in 2007, now employs 30 multi-skilled, multi-lingual scientists. This ensures that we
continue to be at the forefront of food innovation and culinary expertise,” he added.
He said the generation of ‘Millennials’ or Gen Y, typically in the 25-34 age group, will have a
growing influence on consumer food markets in the future.
“This is the most educated, empowered, independent and ethnically-diverse generation to
date and they will play a key role in offsetting the reduced expenditure of the ageing
workforce. Responding to the needs of this demanding group will be a key challenge for the
Irish food industry,” he said.
The ASA conference on ‘Keeping Pace with Global Food Trends’ was attended by over 300
executives from the agriculture and food industry.
Ends