University launches new Scottish centre for food

The Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation. Picture: QMU

The launch of the new Centre aims to enhance Scotland’s position as a leader in food and drink innovation in Europe and support access to the global market for healthy and functional food.

CONNECT WITH THE SCOTSMAN

• Subscribe to our daily newsletter (requires registration) and get the latest news, sport and business headlines delivered to your inbox every morning

• You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google +

Over 100 invited guests from Scotland’s £14 billion food and drink industry got a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the new facilities and heard from a range of food experts about the exciting work that is taking place both in the University and across the industry.

QMU’s on-campus SME, Advanced Microwave Technologies (AMT), provided a demonstration of its cutting-edge machinery. The company itself is emerging as one of the world’s most innovative users of microwave expertise in its application to the food and drink sector.

Representatives from some of Scotland’s leading food and drink businesses that QMU has worked with, also showcased their products.

The Bank of Scotland’s latest food and drink industry economic report highlighted that that innovation and developnment were vital for the food industry in Scotland, it reads: “Arguably, most critical of all for long term growth is innovation and improvement to food produce and the development of innovative new food sources or ‘frontier foods’.”

In fact, more than half the companies interviewed in the bank’s third annual survey expect their business to grow by 5 and 25 per cent over the next five years with many firms citing new product development and investment in existing products being the best way to achieve this growth. It is estimated that a growth in sales of premium health products could be worth an additional £1 billion to the Scottish economy by 2017.

Commenting on the launch of QMU’s new Centre, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead, said: “Scotland’s food and drink sectors are internationally recognised for their quality, many of the most famous products having a long history and unique sense of identity. The work of the centre is helping those companies evolve to meet new demand, develop new products and diversify into new markets, particularly lucrative export opportunities.

“Despite having a long history of collaboration with the food and drink industry, in the past three years alone, QMU’s innovation based engagements with SMEs in the sector have generated an estimated extra £5.7 million for the businesses it has worked with.”

QMU has established academic expertise in the translation and application of science to support commercially successful research and development within the industry, including research support for iQ Chocolate in Stirling, Gusto artisan dressings, marinades and oil and vinegars in Leith, Edinburgh; Black & Gold rapeseed oil in East Lothian; leaf tea experts, eteaket, in Edinburgh; Cuddybridge fruit juices in East Lothian, Belhaven Fruit Farm in East Lothian and The Chocolate Tree chocolatier in East Lothian.

Academic Lead for Food & Drink at QMU, Dr Jane McKenzie, said: “We’re really excited to have reached this significant milestone in the development of QMU’s Scottish Centre for Food Development & Innovation. Facilities like this are currently unavailable elsewhere in Scotland, so research work is often sent to England or Northern Ireland instead.

“The new facilities combined with QMU’s academic knowledge and expertise in food, nutrition and biological sciences is already offering companies in Scotland’s food and drink industry an unrivalled opportunity to innovate and develop new products which are underpinned by QMU’s scientific research.”

Through practical innovation support and creative business solutions, QMU is helping Scotland’s leading food and drink businesses with new and innovative product development and analysis; development of leading edge functional, health enhancing products and ingredients and formulation of existing products – for example healthier alternatives to fat, salt and sugar.

QMU’s team of food innovation experts are also identifying innovative sources of raw materials to produce novel ingredients and ensure sustainability, ingredients to improve product processing and preservation as well as providing nutritional analysis, shelf life testing, consumer focus groups and taste panels.

Speaking at the Scottish Centre for Food Development & Innovation launch, James Withers, CEO of Scotland Food & Drink,the main industry leadership body aligned to the Scottish Government priority economic sector of food and drink, added: “The food and drink industry is one of the strongest performing sectors in Scotland’s economy. Our £14 billion industry rests on a growing reputation for producing quality products and an envied flair for innovation. However, we know there is always more to be done to ensure Scotland’s producers adapt to a fast-changing world and the Scotland Food & Drink partnership is working towards the launch of a new innovation action plan in 2015.

“Relationships between the industry and Scotland’s universities are critical. My ambition is that this new centre will provide producers with intelligence and support, to help them create exciting new products and in turn find new customers. With Scottish food and drink exports up 50% since 2007 and sales within the UK up by more than a third, we have real momentum. But competition is always fierce so innovation will be fundamental to staying ahead of the pack.”

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, added: “The launch of the new centre at Queen Margaret University is another sign of the practical support that Scottish universities and research institutions are providing to food and drink businesses.

“By accessing the expertise, technologies and cutting edge facilities that academic institutions can offer food and drink companies will remain competitive and grow their markets both nationally and internationally.”

The Centre’s superb facilities include a dedicated microbiology laboratory; fully-equipped sensory suite; dedicated chemistry laboratory and a technology room for industry to test new technology.

• For more information about the Scottish Centre for Food Development & Innovation and QMU’s Research & Knowledge Exchange Development Unit and how it can benefit your business, contact Miriam Smith, Business Development Manager at QMU on 0131 474 0000 or email [email protected]

SCOTSMAN TABLET AND IPHONE APPS

• Download your free 30-day trial for our iPad, Android and Kindle apps

• Keep up to date with all aspects of Scottish life with The Scotsman iPhone app, completely free to download and use