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 | | £5.7 MILLION HUMBER SEAFOOD INSTITUTE INVESTMENT FOR FISH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT | | | Humber Seafood Institute (HSI) | | 11/06/2008 | | | The new Humber Seafood Institute (HSI) based on Grimsby's Europarc was formally launched by Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell on Friday 30th May 2008. During the opening Mr Mitchell told the audience, comprising individuals from the industry, Yorkshire Forward, North East Lincolnshire Council and overseas representatives that it was vital that the seafood industry moved with the times.
Following speeches from senior figures including acting H.S.I chair, Wynne Griffiths, Celebrity chef, Antony Worrall Thompson, North East Lincolnshire Council's, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing, councillor Geoff Lowis and Professor Daniel Khan, Mr Thompson delivered a live cookery demonstration to the invited VIP audience.
The Humber Seafood Institute is a £5.7m facility: multi-funded by the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward; the European Regional Development Fund and North East Lincolnshire Council. The building will support the Seafood and Seafood logistics industries through new product development and innovative technology solutions.
Its overall aim is to provide high quality research ranging from providing cutting edge cold chain technologies, to enabling seafood companies to trial new and diverse products which will allow them to take advantage of expanding global markets. Its establishment has been welcomed by all sectors.
The opening of the H.S.I heralds a new chapter for the seafood industry, which its stakeholders hope will help to provide a vibrant and sustainable UK seafood industry as well as a major gateway to international seafood markets.
MP for Grimsby for over 30 years and chairman of the Yorkshire and Humber Seafood Group (YHSG), Austin Mitchell, believes the Institute will help provide the skills needed to meet the future requirements of the sector.
Mr Mitchell said: "The HSI is part of a necessary upgrading of the fishing industry to prevent it stagnating. The decline in catching means processing is becoming the more productive side of the industry. The sector has operated on a shoestring for too long but it's now concentrating on developing new products."
Cllr Geoff Lowis, North East Lincolnshire Council's Portfolio Holder for regeneration, added "This is a major coup for Grimsby and the Humber and an exciting and much needed facility for the industry. I am proud to say North East Lincolnshire Council has led on this and without the hard work of our staff and partners this would not have happened".
The Seafish Industry Authority will keep a footprint on the Humber by moving into a purpose built office in the Institute. Other tenants may include the Yorkshire & Humber Seafood Group, Food Technology Advisory Service, the National Traceability Centre, and the Humber Institute of Food and Fisheries.
H.S.I has two wings, the Torry Wing and the Sydney Keane Wing. The Torry Wing is named after the former fishing industry institute and will facilitate research and development, whilst the Sydney Keane Wing, named in honour of the late trawler skipper and prime mover of the Institute, will house the pilot process and new product development facilities.
A processing hall, rapid testing unit, shelf life testing unit, development and demonstration kitchens are all available at the Institute, providing the industry the tools to compete in new markets. One such market with great potential is fish product surplus, rich in omegas and proteins. To access these new opportunities, the H.S.I has three CL3 (DEFRA Containment Level 3) laboratories for collaborative research.
Simon Hill, Executive Director of Business at Yorkshire Forward commented; "We know the only way to compete in the global seafood market is to push the envelope and develop innovative products and processes which reflect the industry's changing shape. This institute will do just that - helping us to ensure that the region's seafood industry is sustainable and equipped for long-term growth."
Professor Mike Dillon, Vice Principal Research and Enterprise at the Grimsby Institute said, "The Humber region is the core of seafood processing in the UK. HSI will be responsive to industry needs, delivering professional, expert support and state-of-the-art facilities to meet the complex demands of the seafood sector. It will engage in collaborative research with industry leaders so as to optimise market and trade opportunities."
As well as bringing together all branches of administration, research and development, the H.S.I also aims to be a focus for international collaboration. | |
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