Founding members for new food club sought to promote biological research

Food is one of 10 priority areas that the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which allocates government funds for biological research, has identified as part of its technology strategy for focusing future activities. Other sectors include bio-processing, bio-catalysis, crops and crop production.

If the food research club goes ahead, it will be set up along similar lines to existing BBSRC clubs, such as the bio-processing research industry club, established in conjunction with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in July 2005. The 18 industrial members together contributed around 10% of the £10M allocated for projects carried out within universities and BBSRC-sponsored research institutions, which include the Institute of Food Research.

Research projects, which typically last three years, are selected by a club steering group. One potential hot topic for the food industry would be bioactive ingredients, said the BBSRC.

"We are trying very hard not to duplicate work being done elsewhere," said Dr Katie Tearall, BBSRC's business interaction support manager. "We are trying to be all-inclusive and would love small- and medium-sized enterprises to be involved."

The BBSRC has held preliminary discussions with potential food industry collaborators from the ingredients, manufacturing and retail sectors and should know by mid-February whether there is sufficient interest to proceed.

For more details email: business.unit@bbsrc.ac.uk.

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