Seafood Innovation Programme unveiled in Ireland. Pictured from left to right: Liz O’Leary, Head of Innovation, Keohane Seafoods, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, Caroline Bocquel, CEO, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), and Dr Adam McAdamek, Director of Innovation, EIT Belgium.
Photo: BIM
Ireland is set to open applications for a new programme designed to support innovation across the country's seafood sector.
The announcement was made by Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Timmy Dooley TD at the opening of Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s (BIM) Strategic Product Development Conference in Naas, Co. Kildare, on Tuesday.
The new Seafood Innovation Programme will provide companies with expertise, resources and infrastructure to help them create products that meet changing consumer expectations and market trends, Dooley said. Applications for funding are scheduled to open next month.
“Developing smarter, more sustainable and consumer-focused products is essential for the growth and resilience of Ireland’s seafood sector,” Minister Dooley said.
“Today’s consumers value taste, nutrition, provenance, and reassurances that their purchases have low environmental impacts. This programme, administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara under Ireland’s Seafood Development Programme, will empower seafood companies to innovate from sea to plate, ensuring Ireland remains a leader in high-value, ready-to-market products,“ he added.
The minister said the programme would focus on helping seafood processors gain access to niche international markets, add value to raw materials, expand the blue bioeconomy and develop both existing and new export opportunities.
The programme was announced during the Strategic Product Innovation: Building Competitive Strength conference, organised by BIM on 2 September.
The event brought together producers, business leaders and industry experts to explore four themes: structured innovation and long-term strategy, shifting consumer expectations, the role of AI and digital tools in new product development (NPD), and funding and commercial resilience.
Paul Ward, BIM’s Head of Business Intelligence, emphasised the importance of taking a strategic approach to innovation. “In the seafood sector, this means going beyond simply launching new products for the sake of novelty,” he said. “It involves understanding emerging consumer preferences - such as demand for convenience, health benefits, provenance, and sustainability - and aligning innovation with market insights, regulatory requirements, and processing capabilities.”
“The reality is that innovation is no longer optional in today’s seafood markets, and we can no longer ignore the impact of AI and new technologies on the sector,” said BIM CEO Caroline Bocquel, at the conference opening.
“Supply chains are under pressure, global markets are more dynamic than ever, and consumer demands are evolving at speed. This conference is about giving companies the tools and confidence to respond strategically and seize new opportunities," she noted.
Bocquel referred to figures from BIM’s Business of Seafood 2024 report, which she said show that the sector was experiencing "a wave of innovation and modernisation".
“In recent years there has been major investment in automation, energy efficiency, cold storage, and NPD capacity, with support of €37m invested under BAR in 2023 and a further funding coming on stream now under EMFAF," she said.
“Ireland now has 76 Irish aquatech firms worth €165m employing 905 people, with strength in marine engineering, genetics, bioscience, feed additives, digital tools, and health solutions," Bocquel said, pointing out that the Irish seafood sector employs thousands of people and exports to more than 70 markets worldwide. “By embracing innovation and collaboration, BIM and its partners are positioning the industry for sustainable growth and international competitiveness," she added.
The Seafood Innovation Programme will be jointly funded by the Irish government and the European Commission through EMFAF. Further information will be made available on BIM’s website in the coming weeks.
