Inauguration of the laboratory at DIL with Minister Grotelüschen

Chances for technology research and significance of food safety for the German food industry

Quakenbrück (DIL). For the inauguration of the laboratory annex at the German Institute of Food Technologies in Quakenbrück on 9 July 2010, the Minister and other invited guests brought along the best summer weather. Apart from the long anticipated completion of the first construction stage at the DIL, another focus was laid on future developments in the food industry.

Dr. Reinhold Kassing, vice chairman of the Board of Directors at DIL, welcomed Minister Astrid Grotelüschen and other high ranking visitors from politics, economy and science. Kassing pointed out that he sees the DIL on the way up; the development is looking promising. He thanked Ms Grotelüschen and her team for the excellent support.

Minister Grotelüschen, who has been appointed as Minister for nutrition, agriculture, consumer protection and rural development in Lower Saxony only a few months ago, was pleased about the invitation to Quakenbrück. She has come not only to inaugurate the laboratory but also to emphasize the importance of a sustainable further development of food safety and the increased demand for research in this context.

The DIL as application oriented research institute - by the way located right in the center of the German food industry - has an important function in supporting the food industry. This justifies the 7.8m Euro funds provided for the reorientation as economic aid as well as another 6.2m Euro for prospective research, both sums coming from the budget of the State of Lower Saxony.

SMEs are hardly able to monitor the research landscape and to interpret the significance of scientific and technological finding for their own products and processes. This means that the mostly medium-sized companies that do not have their own research and development departments need cross-company research institutes such as the DIL in order to be able to access the latest scientific and technological developments and to commission own research projects. Grotelüschen explained: “The production of high quality food at competitive prices in combination with today’s product and process requirements has turned into a high tech business.”

Dr. Volker Heinz, head of the DIL, tied in at this point with his lecture that highlighted the significance of technological developments in food processing for improved food safety, process efficiency and appeal of the finished products. However, due to the current price competition, it would be hard for the industry to further develop beyond the current level and to hold their ground on the international food market at the same time. The food industry is the fourth largest industrial sector in Germany; in Lower Saxony it even holds second place right after the automotive sector. With approximately 530,000 employees and as direct procurer of agricultural products, its economical significance is very high.

However, when considering the proportion of research and development expenditure based on the turnover, the food industry with only 2% ranks last among the producing industries in Germany (for comparison: automotive: 5%, chemistry: 10%, pharmaceutics: 15%). Within the international comparison, the German food industry is clearly behind other main producer countries, according to Heinz. The political sector must provide incentives for research by corresponding framework programs in order to turn this negative development around.

Finally, Dr. Helmut Steinkamp, head of the DIL division Safety, explained some details from the current research work at DIL. With the completion of the laboratory annex there is now the chance to intensify the research activities for the benefit of consumers and industry alike. The institute is already developing new monitoring approaches for food processors. The DIL is also accompanying the companies in their attempt to improve hygiene and food safety. Added to that the efforts of the industry in terms of sustainability management will be supported by identifying ecological aspects and potential savings.

Finally, the visitors viewed the new laboratory facilities. The annex is allocated to the DIL division Safety and includes laboratories for microbiology and chemistry. The investment volume is 2.27m Euro. Next to this new, now finished first construction stage, the stages 2 + 3 are developing satisfactorily. Within the scope of these measures, a technical center and a physics lab will be erected. This reorientation of the DIL was made possible by comprehensive public funding.

(Source picture: Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung)