Quakenbrück (DIL). Following the foundation stone laying ceremony for the comprehensive expansion and modernization of the buildings last May, the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) now again had a reason to celebrate. It was a golden autumn day when, on 09 October 2009, the research institute from Quakenbrück celebrated the topping-out ceremony of its laboratory annex. With that the first construction phase of the expansion project advances quickly. The move into the new laboratory building is scheduled for next spring.

Tradition and innovation can be very close. On this sunny day, the carpenter raised up the topping-out wreath embellished with ribbons onto the roof and asked for God’s blessing. Then, Dr. Volker Heinz, head of the institute which is committed to the research and development of high quality food, hammered in the last carpenter’s nail. He also thanked the regional craftsmen for their work. Without their commitment, it would have been a hard time to accomplish the ambitious plans of the DIL.

Numerous invited guests then had the chance to see the progress in the construction of the buildings and also to inform themselves about the new perspectives of the DIL. With this laboratory annex, dedicated to food safety issues, the floor space of the institute will be expanded by 690 sqm. This almost doubles the space for the chemistry and microbiology laboratories. It also means that the DIL can push forward the research activities in the food safety field because now there is the opportunity to approach research projects related to food chemistry, microbiology and molecular biology.

The investment for the first construction phase will amount to 2.27m Euros. The funds were granted by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Rural Development. The annex building offers room for 30 staff members. This means that besides the constructional expansion, the staff also has to be expanded. Dr. Volker Heinz explained the long-term perspective: “In addition to the new employees recruited already, the employment of up to 10 more staff members is taken into consideration.”

There were also congratulations from the State’s capital as State Secretary Friedrich-Otto Ripke also traveled to Quakenbrück for this occasion. Ripke, standing in for Lower Saxony’s Minister for Nutrition, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Rural Development Hans-Heinrich Ehlen, was impressed by the speed with which the researchers in Quakenbrück drive their future projects forwards. He also emphasized the significance of the institute: “We need innovation, and we need new and safe products. This is why the DIL is so important for the food industry. The DIL is about to change from a rather unspectacular jewel into the shiny diamond.” Other congratulators besides the State Secretary included Dr. Reinhold Kassing (DIL Board of Directors), Prof. Dr. Werner Sitzmann (Scientific Advisory Board of DIL) and Reinhard Scholz (Director of the community of Artland) who all wished the project all the best.

The comprehensive construction measures include three phases which shall be completed by the end of 2010. In addition to the laboratory annex, a completely new building intended to house the technical center and physics laboratories is being erected across the street. The funds for that are being provided by the second economic stimulus package of the Federal government as well as by the State of Lower Saxony. Altogether, after completion of all these measures, the floor space of the DIL will be increased from currently 2,900 sqm to then about 9,000 sqm. The future of the institute has already begun.