15 Million Euro investment.
Applied research is best basis for a successful future of the food industry. Laying of the cornerstone for the DIL extension by State Secretary Ripke.
Quakenbrück. Many guests from all over came at Prof.-von-Klitzing-Strasse in Quakenbrück (Germany) to be part of the ceremony of laying the cornerstone for the extension of the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) on May, 20th 2009. These new buildings became necessary to be able to realise the DIL’s future strategy 2015.
„Knowledge for superior foods“ this is not only the institute’s slogan as Dr. Volker Heinz, DIL Director since 2006, explained in his salutary, “but also a solid grounding for the local and international food industry to be successful in the future.” This will be specifically important in the light of the actual crisis which normally does effect the agricultural economy later than the other industries.
Dr. Heinz thanked the government of Lower Saxony for the allowance of the necessary funds as well as all the other administration institutions been part of the planning and authorization process for their support. Even if the economic crisis dominates the headlines currently, the DIL will serve as an important link between sience and application by supporting the agricultural industry with research results and know how. So that this important and successful branch can improve its international competitiveness.
Dr. Reinhold Kassing, head of district authority Osnabruck, thanked especially the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony Wullf and Minister Ehlen for their commitment and expressed that the enhancements of the DIL can only be successful in cooperation with the federal state. He additionally pointed out the effective networking of the regional research organisations. A next step “will be the signing of the cooperation treaty between DIL and Fachhochschule Osnabruck subsequently.”
As a „Double Lighthouse in the Artland region“ Reinhard Scholz, Mayor of the region, characterised the German Institute of Food Technologies. “DIL is a focal point of the food industry and an important economic factor for Quakenbrück and the Artland area.”
Albert Focke, head of district authority Vechta, claimed the food industry as the „pillar of the northwest region of Lower Saxony”. Up to now the economic crisis touched only the automotive sector. The agricultural basis of the north-western region delivered security and stability to this area. To prolong that into the future, DIL will develop the premises.
The importance of networking and international cooperation underlined Prod. Friedrich Meuser, Technical University Berlin, as science representative during his greetings. Specifically the Network of Excellence “HighTech Europe”, coordinated by DIL, enables to create some important future directions with regard to the globalisation.
Prof. Ernst. H. Reimerdes, head of DIL supervisory board, explained in a few words the future strategy of the Food Institute unitil the year 2015. At the very beginning of the institute all was established for 40 people. But thanks to the excellent research results in the meantime around 100 people are working at the DIL. This is also an effect of additional research platforms like for example High Pressure Processing and Robotic which were established during the past months. But also Nano-, Information- and Communication-Technologies will be developed in the future. Therefore DIL needs the respective facilities and equipment.
Lower Saxony’s Minister for Nutrition, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Rural Development Hans-Heinrich Ehlen who should carry out the laying of the cornerstone had to held a milk conference. So his State Secretary Friedrich-Otto Ripke joined the ceremony. “Thanks to the outstanding results of DIL and the available construction planning the necessary budget of totally 15 Million Euro could be approved by the federal state of Lower Saxony and the Federal Government's Package of Measures.” He wishes that the investment will last to success and profit for the agricultural sector in the future.
