Irish Food Research Conference
The 44th Annual Food Research Conference took place recently at the Teagasc Food Research Centre Moorepark in Fermoy, County Cork. This one day conference provided a platform for post-graduate students to present their research findings in the form of either an oral or a poster presentation. For over 40 years, this conference (formerly the UCC Annual Conference on Food Science and Technology) took place in UCC, while the event was hosted by Teagasc Ashtown in 2013 and UCD in 2014. The conference came to Teagasc Moorepark for the first time this year. The conference has established itself as the main Irish Food Research event for postgraduate students in food related subjects.
Over 110 attendees from Teagasc and the Universities heard 18 oral presentations and viewed 50 scientific posters, primarily from postgraduate students. For many, this was their first time to be exposed to a national audience, and the conference continues to provide a key networking and communication opportunity for young food researchers.
The plenary speaker, Dr Michael Callanan from the Nestlé Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland gave an industrial perspective on basic and applied food research in Nestlé. “Many of the students presented high quality scientific results while keeping the industrial purpose of their work in mind. In fact, many of the talks and posters are highly relevant to Nestle,” commented Dr Callanan.
The Teagasc Prize for Best Oral Presentation went to Dara Kirke, NUI Galway and Teagasc, entitled “Understanding natural variation in low molecular weight phlorotannins in Irish seaweeds – a fundamental step towards future exploitation”. Noirin Kelly, UCC, and Nirupama Gangopadhyay, Teagasc and UCD, were runners-up.
The Teagasc Prize for Best Poster Presentation went to Sophie Gaspard, Teagasc and UCC, for her poster entitled “Thermal stability of heat-Induced κ-casein/whey protein aggregates isolated from milk protein concentrate”. Justine Aussant, NUI Galway, and Alberto R. Corrochano, Teagasc and UCD, were runners-up.
CAPTION:
Pictured at the 44th Annual Food Research Conference at the Teagasc Food Research Centre Moorepark, are: Dr Andre Brodkorb, Teagasc; Sophie Gaspard (Teagasc and UCC), winner of the Teagasc Prize for Best Poster Presentation; Dara Kirke (NUI Galway and Teagasc) winner of the Teagasc Prize for Best Oral Presentation; and Dr Mark Fenelon, Head of Food Research, Teagasc.
