Donie Cassidy (Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the themes of the latest round of research projects to be grant-aided under the food institutional research measure. [6104/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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FIRM, the food institutional research measure, is a public good food research programme funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Calls for proposals have issued periodically since 2000 and a total of €63 million in funding has been awarded for 137 projects, including €6.7 million, which was recently approved for 14 projects under the food safety and beverages themes.

I am convinced that high quality food research, which creates new knowledge and capacity, is of significant importance to the continued development of the agri-food sector. This week my Department issued a call through the national press inviting a new round of research proposals from institutions under the five themes of food and health, food quality and manufacturing, food safety and security of the food chain, food, the consumer and the food supply chain and new uses for food and drink by-products. The themes have been selected to highlight strategic areas of opportunity for the food sector as well as consumer and food safety needs.

The areas covered by these themes are the following: food and health includes functional foods, product reformulation for enhanced health, nutrigenomics and food surveillance; food quality and manufacturing refers to new innovative products, novel technologies for food processing and process control, food ingredients, as well as food composition, structure and sensorial properties, food waste management and new or innovative food products, including new uses for dairy fats. Proposals may incorporate meat, beverages, dairy products, prepared consumer foods, food safety and security of the food chain.

This theme aims to build on research in the areas of microbiological and epidemiological research on food pathogens, chemical residues and contaminants in food products, novel processes and ingredients for control of pathogens in food and improved detection methods for food pathogens. Proposals are also invited on risk analysis, risk communication and risk management; food, the consumer and the food supply chain includes consumer studies to support the development of the food sector and studies aimed at food supply chain efficiency and traceability; and new uses for food and drink by-products. This is left open to encourage new ideas.

The call is addressed to institutions that can demonstrate the necessary research capabilities, including universities, institutes of technology and Teagasc food centres. Proposals involving collaboration between research institutions are encouraged. Research work already funded under FIRM has led to the creation of a number of highly qualified research teams and the formation of recognised centres of excellence. The capability and critical mass that has been developed, together with the associated knowledge base, represents a major resource for industry and well as being instrumental in the development of a number of food products benefiting consumers.

My Department has arranged five briefing sessions for researchers this week — two each in Dublin and Cork and one in Galway — to assist them in formulating their project proposals. The closing date for receipt of proposals is Friday, 31 March 2006. The proposals will be evaluated by external independent expert panels and then considered by the food institutional research committee, which comprises representatives of the private and public sectors.