QMYOU / Knowledge Exchange 19
L-R Mark Laing , Chairman , Nairn ’ s Oatcakes Ltd ; James Withers , CEO of Food & Drink Scotland ; Dr Jane McKenzie , Academic Lead for food and drink at QMU ; Siobhan Jordan , Director of Interface ; Professor Petra Wend , Principal and Vice Chancellor of QMU
THE FIRST SCOTTISH CENTRE for Food Development and Innovation was launched at QMU in December .
The launch of the new Centre is enhancing Scotland ’ s position as a leader in food and drink innovation in Europe and supporting access to the global market for healthy and functional food .
Over 100 invited guests from Scotland ’ s £ 14 billion food and drink industry enjoyed 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 . AMT 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 .
“ innovation will be
fundamental to staying ahead of the pack .”
According to Bank of Scotland ’ s latest food and drink industry economic report , “ 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 ’.” More than half the companies interviewed in Bank of Scotland ’ s third annual survey of Scotland ’ s food and drink sector expect their business to grow by between 5 % and 25 % over the next five years .
Many firms cite new product development and investment in existing products being the top two ways 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 .
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 in Leith ; Black & Gold rapeseed oil in East Lothian ; leaf tea experts , eteaket , in Edinburgh ; Cuddybridge fruit juices in East Lothian ; Belhaven Fruit Farm in Dunbar ; and The Chocolate Tree chocolatier in Haddington .
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 and Innovation . Before the launch of the Centre , facilities like those it offers were unavailable elsewhere in Scotland , so research work has often been 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 , along with ingredients to improve product processing and preservation ; and conducting nutritional analysis , shelf life testing , consumer focus groups and taste panels .
Scotland Food & Drink is the main industry leadership body aligned to the Scottish Government priority economic sector of food and drink . Speaking at the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation launch , James Withers , CEO of Scotland Food & 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 .”
The Centre ’ s superb facilities include a dedicated microbiology laboratory ; a fully-equipped sensory suite ; a dedicated chemistry laboratory and a technology room for industry to test new technology .
For more information about the Scottish Centre for Food Development and 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 T : 0131 474 0000 or E : MSmith3 @ qmu . ac . uk
Watch the new food centre film at : https :// www . youtube . com / watch ? v = i8IBLptVoIg
QMYOU / Knowledge Exchange 19