APC News
New APC Collaboration Announced
New APC Collaboration Announced
APC Microbiome Ireland And PepsiCo Announce New Collaboration
APC Microbiome Ireland is delighted to announce a new collaboration with PepsiCo, relating to foods with functional benefits. The announcement was made at the SFI Food Innovation Roundtable in Washington last week where representatives from both organisations joined An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, to discuss this project’s potential to improve global diets.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with PepsiCo to develop innovative functional foods. This partnership is an ideal opportunity for us to translate our expertise in microbiome science for human wellbeing” said Dr Paul Cotter, APC Microbiome Ireland and Head of Food BioSciences at Teagasc who will lead the research.
“The project utilises existing expertise within APC Microbiome Ireland in the area of food-microbiome interactions” said Prof Fergus Shanahan, Director, APC Microbiome Ireland at University College Cork. “APC has a lot of experience in working with food and beverage companies to test and design food products for functional effects on the microbiome and health”.
APC is one of Ireland’s flagship research centres funded, in part, by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). APC is ranked #1 globally for research in antimicrobial and therapeutic microbes and is in the top 5 institutions in the world for microbiome research.
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. The company has had a presence in Cork since 1974, during which time it has grown its R&D operations in the region, most recently opening a Global Dairy Centre of Excellence and Fruit and Vegetable R&D centre.
Cliona Murphy, Vice-President, Research and Development, PepsiCo said: “PepsiCo is delighted to be collaborating with APC, one of the world’s leading microbiome research centres. We hope this collaboration will enable us to develop new products that will enhance the lives of our global consumers.”
Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland said, “Collaborating with industry is one of the key mechanisms for transferring the benefits of public investment in research into sustainable economic development. Ireland’s high standing in global rankings in the scientific fields of Animal and Dairy, and in the Agricultural Sciences is further evidence of the world-leading expertise we have cultivated. I am delighted to welcome this collaboration between PepsiCo and the SFI Research Centre APC Microbiome Ireland which showcases the value of the SFI Research Centre network, delivering scientific excellence with economic and societal impact in strategic areas of importance to Ireland.”
Pictured (left to right): Prof Fergus Shanahan, Director APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork; Ms Denise Lefebvre, Senior Vice President for the Nutrition Category, PepsiCo, Prof Mark Ferguson, Director Science Foundation Ireland and Dr Sally Cudmore, Manager, APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork.
For further information please contact Katie O’Mahony, Communications Lead Europe PepsiCo; Katie.omahony@pepsico.com