GLOBAL INNOVATOR OPENS DOORS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND DAIRYING GROUP

Dairy industry leaders from Northern Ireland have heard how News Zealand's Fonterra Co-Operative has become the world's biggest dairy exporter through a longstanding strategic focus on market-led innovation. The 25-strong Northern Ireland delegation, part of the Invest NI organised ???best practice' mission to New Zealand were briefed on Fonterra's focus on R&D activities by Dr Jeremy Hill, group technology director, during a visit to the company's research centre at Palmerston North. The group also visited the Over the Moon Dairy at Putaruru, near Waikato, a small business making speciality cheeses, yoghurt and ice cream. Fonterra, a co-operative owned by 11,000 farmers who supply more than 14 billion litres of milk annually, is now New Zealand's largest private sector in R&D. The research centre currently employs 330 people, mostly scientists and technicians. Taking part in the Fonterra briefing were Dr David Dobbin, group chief executive of United Dairy Farmers, Eamonn Donnelly, group development manager United Dairy Farmers, Maimie Neill, farm liaison officer, Fivemiletown Creamery, and Tim Acheson, general manager-manufacturing, Lakeland Dairies. The co-operative produces international consumer brands including Anchor and is a major supplier to the global foodservice industry. The Northern Ireland delegation was also briefed on the development of a new product range ??" Powercrisps using dairy proteins ??" for snacking. Peter Curran, Invest NI's manager of the dairying/red meat group, commenting on the visit, said: Fonterra is an excellent example of a company has achieved worlkd class status by continuous investment in innovative products for its target sectors in global markets. ???Fonterra recognises that companies need to work with external partners, such as the universities, to find new products and technologies faster and with greater certainty, for the greater good of the New Zealand dairying industry and wider economy. ???The company's commitment to Open Innovation is helping it to build on world-class research and development to achieve innovation excellence for tomorrow,??? he added. ???The development and implementation of innovative technology to achieve cost, time and waste savings across our manufacturing business is a key priority for Fonterra,??? Mr Curran said. Over The Moon was set up 12 months ago by Sue Arthur. Sue had previously had careers in teaching, travel and local government before starting her own business. Making cheese at home as a hobby, Sue soon spotted a niche in the market for gourmet cheeses. Over The Moon produce a range of hard and soft cheese including Camembert, red Leicester and cheddar. There is also a wide range of speciality cheeses including Venus, a fresh cow's milk garlicy cheese marinated in oil and also Hallum, an award winning frying/grilling cheese.. Speaking after the visit Maimie Neill , farm liaison manager at Fivemiletown Creamery, said ???It is great to see someone as passionate about cheese as Fivemiletown. I will be taking some new and interesting concepts back to develop at the Creamery which we will hopefully be able to add to our speciality cheese range.??? Invest NI has organised an intensive 10-day programme in New Zealand to help local agri-food businesses to study best practice in animal rearing and food processing.