Key initiative 1: Improving The Infrastructure for Food and Beverage Product Development
[ Last Updated 6 July 2007 ]
Short Description
Information on the infrastructure for food and beverage product development initiative.
Taskforce themes: collaboration and transformation
Purpose:
Presentations were made to the taskforce by several stakeholder groups about proposals to provide commercialisation infrastructure, such as pilot plants for testing and developing innovative food products. The key issue is what appears to be a gap in the "infrastructure" of New Zealand’s food and beverage innovation system. The lack of pilot scale production and processing facilities is a genuine area of concern for the sector and there are suggestions that this poses a barrier to the development of new products particularly by small and medium sized businesses.
What we will do:
The government has committed to working with the key stakeholders to scope the extent of the problem, help develop a single co-ordinated and linked proposal and fund a feasibility study. The feasibility study will look at what demand there is for pilot facilities and whether there is sufficient industry commitment and support for these. If a viable case is made then the government will consider its role including possible funding contributions.
How this will help:
There is a need to develop a more diversified product base and encourage a greater level of entrepreneurial endeavour. The industry believes this is being hampered by a lack of facilities to pilot and test new products. This project will assess the degree to which this is an issue and provide a way forward.
Agencies involved:
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Ministry of Economic Development will oversee the project in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, the Foundation for Research Science and Technology and the Tertiary Education Commission.
Stakeholder groups involved are Massey University, the Waikato Innovation Part, Canterbury Development Corporation and Lincoln University.
Timeline:
A scoping exercise will begin in July 2007, and the feasibility study is expected to be completed in November 2007.
Budget:
$150,000 has been set aside to fund the scoping and feasibility stage of this project. Decisions on government funding contributions for the establishment of pilot facilities will be dependant on the strength of the case and the commitment of industry.
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