Food innovation centre boost for Harper Adams campus

Posted 9 September 2013

Students and staff at Harper Adams University will have access to technical expertise and state-of-the-art facilities on their doorstep, thanks to a unique collaboration with one of the UK’s leading dairy food companies.

Dairy Crest, known for successful brands such as Clover, FRijj and Cathedral City, is going to locate its new, dedicated Innovation Centre at the University in Newport, Shropshire.

This collaboration will further strengthen links between the two organisations - supporting the university’s curriculum whilst re-energising Dairy Crest’s product innovation through regular interaction with staff and students.

It will provide a link into leading research within the agriculture and food sectors, as well as a purpose-built food innovation centre on campus.

Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Llewellyn said: “As the leading UK university working to underpin the country’s agriculture and food sectors, we see many opportunities in this collaboration for both Dairy Crest and Harper Adams that will benefit farmers, our students and staff, as well as consumers.

“This is an important step for both Dairy Crest and Harper Adams. In a world where issues of food security and sustainability are now at the top of political and agri-food industry agendas, finding ways to increase the interaction and knowledge flow between academia and the food industry for commercial and societal benefits is going to become more important and this collaboration is most timely.

“We are also very pleased to have received support from the Higher Education Funding Council through the Catalyst Fund, in this initiative.”

Dairy Crest aims to deliver 10% of year-on-year growth through new product development; with scientific research, technology and product development at the core of this objective. It is believed that the new Innovation Centre will contribute substantially to this.

Roger Emery, Dairy Crest Group Technical and Compliance Director, said: “This is a great opportunity for Dairy Crest.

“We already have a productive working relationship with Harper Adams, and provide placements for food science students at our Technical Development Centre, in Crudgington.

“This new collaboration will be a mutual relationship. As well as strengthening links, the project will open new opportunities for both parties to work together and support the development of future technical professionals for the food industry.

“I am also delighted that we will be staying in Shropshire which has a historic association with Dairy Crest and a superb dairying tradition.”