A new €10m investment in Moorepark Technology Limited (MTL) was officially opened by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed on Friday 13 December in Teagasc, Fermoy, Co Cork.

The investment in the new pilot plant extension was made by Teagasc and the dairy companies who are shareholders in MTL.

MTL is a modern facility that was set up in the early 1990s as a dedicated state-of-the-art pilot plant to meet the growing research and development needs of the dairy industries.

“This extension allows dairy and other food companies to develop new products and adapt existing food offerings to meet the needs of an ever-changing consumer. I want to acknowledge the shareholders' commitment and their desire to position MTL as a futuristic pilot plant,” said Minister Creed.

Shareholders

Ownership of MTL is on a shareholder basis, with Teagasc being the majority shareholder (57%) and the remaining shares being held by nine dairy processing companies, Enterprise Ireland and Ornua.

The dairy companies with shareholdings include Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Ltd; Kerry Group; Dairygold Co-Op Society Ltd; Carbery Group; Arrabawn Co-op Ltd; Aurivo Co-op Ltd; Tipperary Co-Op Creamery Ltd; North Cork Co-Op Ltd; and Mullinahone Co-Op Ltd.

The shareholders were represented by their respective chairs and chief executives at the official opening.

High quality

Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle said: “We have just broken ground on an additional €10m investment in a food innovation hub here in Moorepark. This new world-class facility will allow companies to rent high-quality laboratories and offices to locate their own R&D teams at Moorepark, who will collaborate with Teagasc researchers and use the MTL pilot plant. In this unique environment, food companies will greatly enhance their research and innovation capacity.”

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