On 27th and 28th September NICHE will held its Launch Conference in Letterkenny. This meeting will initiate officially first site visit and first interregional workshop. The main focus of conference 'Innovation in Food - Driving Local & Regional Enterprises' will raise awareness about driving food innovation at national and interregional level. Perspectives and good practices will be presented by representatives of National Initiative to Drive Innovation in Food in Ireland, IMP³rove European Innovation Management Academy, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Island Seafood (Atlantic Treasures), Donegal Food Coast Initiative, Kinnegar Brewing, AlgAran Seaweed Products. These case studies will present how food sector play a great role in regions’ economic development and its potential and it will be a great chance to exchange knowledge and experience from food businesses.
People attending the conference also go the opportunity to explore and discuss a range Good Practice case studies each of the partner regions.
The second day will focus on Food Business Brokerage Event in Donegal connected to site visits in companies which are dealing with production processes, packing, branding as also on environmental policies. (names of companies) and pictures. The first site visit is to Department of Agriculture’s Potato Propagation Centre. The Centre produce Pre-Basic potato seed (minitubers) and do laboratory testing for local farmers and producers.more info at the following link: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/
The second site visit will be to Island Seafoods Limited, a family run businesses located in the Donegal fishing village Killybegs. Island Seafoods originally supplied pelagic fish into the secondary processing market, but since 2008 it has been supplying a range of smoked mackerel, herring, salmon, whiting and trout products to the retail sector under the brand “Atlantic Treasures. The company continues to develop value added seafood products and works closely with the Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the Irish Sea Fisheries Board (BIM Bord Iascaigh Mhara) to test and develop new products.
Island Seafoods Ltd. has a history of improving efficiencies at their plant and reducing their energy and water requirements. In 2007 the company commissioned a hydroelectric power plant that generates 700MW of electricity each year (~ 60% of the factory’s annual consumption, 350 tonne carbon emissions offset yearly). For more information on Island Seafoods Ltd. visit their website www.islandseafoodsltd.ie.
