This is a subscriber-only article
Sheep 2018 Farm to Fork, which takes place in Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co Galway, on Saturday 7 July, is expanding its programme of events by the day.
This year’s event builds on the impressive technical programme of previous years and is joined by a major focus on food. This ties in with Galway being designated as European Region of Gastronomy 2018.
The Teagasc Food Programme has announced its programme for the day and it makes for a very interesting demonstration. There are six components to the display, briefly outlined below.
Sheep flavour wheel
The flavour wheel illustrates the various different flavours or sensations which can be perceived in sheepmeat. This is an area where extensive research has been carried out in recent years, with results from a large-scale study on meat quality from lambs finished as entire males or castrates released in 2017.
Food matching
This demonstration will detail the science behind why certain foods work well together and explain why food combinations often work well when they share similar flavour components.
Eating quality of sheepmeat: In this section, the 3D quality of meat, visible through CT imaging, can be viewed on a large screen. The application of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to sheepmeat will be demonstrated, while information on 3D printing of food will also be provided, along with delving into the topic of recycling of the fifth quarter, with a particular emphasis on the processes involved in the conversion of meat co-products into useable functional ingredients for either food or medicine use.
Meat Technology Ireland (MTI)
MTI is an Enterprise Ireland industry-led initiative that is building a strategic research and innovation base in beef and sheepmeat processing in Ireland. The centre acts as a one-stop shop for meat processing research and technology. Staff will be on hand to give an overview of current work.
APC Microbiome Ireland
Named Alimentary Adventures, this interesting exhibit includes a 10m-long inflatable gut, which is used to explore and investigate the human digestive system. Research staff and students studying at the institute will be present to guide visitors through the inflatable and engage them in the process of food digestion and introduce them to microbes that assist in the digestive process and are important for our health.
New Product Development for SMEs
This is a stand not to be missed for those interested in the area of developing successful food products and businesses. A key requirement for successful food businesses is the capacity to produce high-quality and safe food products. Teagasc’s team of highly skilled food technologists, microbiologists, chemists, trainers and consultants can work alongside food companies to develop new and innovative products and provide technical solutions to in-company problems.
Just the start
As mentioned already, the Teagasc Food programme exhibit is one component of the focus on food at Sheep 2018.
Bord Bia is co-ordinating a series of butchery demonstrations, while celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio will host a number of cookery demonstrations throughout the day.
Galway’s designation as European Region of Gastronomy 2018 will highlight local food producers, as well as providing information on a number of topics from food and sports to reducing food waste and the strong association between food and consumer health.
This will be covered in more detail in next week’s Sheep 2018 preview focus.
Top of Coom hosts shearing
The annual Top of Coom sheep shearing hosts the all-Ireland championships and international tests, helping to celebrate the event’s 40 years in existence on the Cork/Kerry border between Kilgarvan and Ballyvourney on Sunday 8 July.
Without an all-Ireland and international competition in 2018, all eyes will be on who will be crowned all-Ireland champions in each category, while the team that will represent Ireland in the 2019 World Championships, to be held in France in the first week of July, will also be announced.
The international tests will see an Irish team take on teams from Scotland and Wales. There will also be sheep dog trials and events for all the family. Contact Eileen Creedon at topofcoom@yahoo.ie or 064-668 5373.
SHARING OPTIONS: