In our agribusiness section this week, Dr John Colreavy outlines his vision for the future of the Irish meat sector in his role as director of Meat Technology Ireland, the new research and innovation centre established last year.

The aim of this research and innovation centre will be to develop greater value from our meat sector using a science-based approach – something that has worked well for the Irish dairy industry.

However, as Eoin Lowry notes, the challenge for Meat Technology Ireland will be to deliver effective results with a budget of €8m – much lower than the €35m invested by the dairy industry in two similar centres.

In saying this, Meat Technology Ireland is the first meat research centre of its kind in the northern hemisphere and the first project on which the meat processors have ever collaborated.

Ultimately, the success of Meat Technology Ireland will be its ability to create a globally recognised standard that showcases the quality of Irish beef and, in doing so, passes a premium back to Irish farmers.