Meat technology Ireland (MTI), a new industry-led initiative that will create a one-stop shop for meat processing research and technology was launched last week. It is an €8.1m five-year programme, co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and a consortium of nine beef and sheepmeat processing companies. The MTI is hosted by Teagasc at its Ashtown Food Research Facility with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Dublin City University (DCU), University College Cork (UCC) and the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation (ICBF) involved as research providers. The companies behind the initiative are ABP Ireland, Ashbourne Meat Processors, Dawn Meats Group, Dunbia, Hilton Foods Ireland, Irish Country Meats, Kepak Group, Liffey Meats, and Slaney Foods.

It will provide consumer-focused research that can best inform processors and farmers. IBEC’s Meat Industry Ireland chair Phillip Carroll said: “The output of MTI will be an important enabler for further developing Irish beef and sheepmeat exports, meeting marketplace requirements and growing value”. John Malone is chair of MTI while Dr John Colreavy has been appointed as director.