THE IRISH DAIRY processing sector is preparing for the end of milk quotas in under two months – for the first time in three decades.
It will open the door for farmers to ramp up production and the Irish milk pool is expected to increase by 50% by 2020.
A total of €35 million is being invested by Government and industry partners in two dairy processing innovation facilities.
The Department of Jobs through Enterprise Ireland, along with industry partners, are putting €25 million into a new Dairy Processing Technology Centre.
While Teagasc and its nine industry partners, are to inject a further €10 million into Moorepark Technology Ltd in Fermoy Co Cork.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said:
The removal of milk quotas offers huge opportunities that we must exploit in a planned and strategic way in order to support jobs growth.
The eight companies involved in the Dairy Processing Technology Centre will need to trial the technologies at a pilot scale to test their potential robustness at commercial scale.
Dr. Keith O’Neill, Director of Lifesciences and Food Commercialisation, Enterprise Ireland said:
“With the anticipated increase of 50% to 2020 in the Irish milk pool, dairy processors need to be supported to deal with the challenges presented including technological capabilities and human resources capacities to develop a product mix that can increase dairy exports while maximising the efficiencies of processing operations.
He added that, “The future is very bright for the Irish dairy industry”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say