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Agri-food remains Ireland’s most important indigenous sector. It is projected that the value of Irish agri-food exports will increase to €19 billion by 2025, creating an additional 23,000 jobs in the sector.* The Cork region has a rich food and drink ecosystem spanning agriculture, food processing and food production. It is a critical research base into food innovation, with significant activities across both business and academia in the area.
From producing infant formula for the ever-expanding Asian market, craft brewing and distillation for global whiskey connoisseurs through to uncovering the latest food innovations – it’s all happening in Cork.
PepsiCo embodies the innovation in the region. The company estimates that one billion servings of its products are enjoyed by consumers around the world every day and many of those products have a connection to Cork.
The Cork region is home to about 700 PepsiCo team members who are part of the manufacturing of concentrates and flavours for PepsiCo brands and a Research and Development (R&D) team that includes product and packaging developers, and quality and regulatory personnel with a special focus on dairy, beverages, fruits and vegetables.
Indigenous businesses also play an important role. Dairygold opened a Nutritionals campus in 2017, representing an investment of €86m and is a significant player in innovative dairy products including infant formula and functional foods.
“We have a lot of innovation in smart farming, the Internet of Things now moving into farming, and there’s a lot happening in precision farming to help address growing global demand”
Jim Woulfe, CEO Dairygold
Given the importance of agri-food to the economy and Cork’s prominence, the government body “Teagasc” has a long established centre of excellence in Cork. The Moorepark Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre has played a pivotal role in the development of the Irish dairy industry.
Cork has spearheaded the Irish food revolution and today it has an abundance of fantastic places to eat and drink, under the watchful eye of a cast of creative chefs. It’s a haven for artisan food producers and craft breweries, as well as being home to the established stout brands Murphys, Beamish and Jameson whiskey, promoting Irish whiskey globally.