The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Loughry Campus supports small and medium sized businesses innovate through the Innovation Voucher programme.
Through a partnership approach, companies access support, specialist knowledge and practical skills required to help promote innovation, develop new products and systems to assist business to grow.
William and Alison Chestnutt run their family dairy farm outside Portrush, Co. Antrim. The couple successfully applied to the Invest NI Voucher programme and were awarded a voucher worth £5,000 to develop their own Greek ‘style’ yoghurt.
William Chestnutt is the fourth generation of the family-owned dairy business, farming a herd of three-way cross Holstein, Montbéliarde and Viking Red milking cows.
The couple were already selling their unhomogenised, pasteurised farm milk dispensed from a vending machine situated in a modern outbuilding at Chestnutt’s Farm.
They had no previous experience and knowledge of yoghurt manufacture, but their goal was to produce and sell their own dairy products produced from their thriving dairy herd.
CAFRE acted as the knowledge provider in this farm diversification project through a partnership with the Invest NI Innovation Voucher programme. The campus has a wide range of specialised food processing equipment and facilities to develop an idea into a product meeting all the food safety and labelling requirements available for sale on the market.
CAFRE Food Technologist Ruth Hogg based at Loughry Campus, Cookstown, provided the technical assistance that was needed to develop this rich, Greek ‘style’ yoghurt.
William and Alison’s ambition to make their own thick, creamy farmhouse yoghurt is now a reality, selling successfully into a growing number of local food outlets.
Due to the growing popularity and success of Chestnutt Farm’s dairy products, William and Alison are currently developing additional artisan dairy products to add to their high-quality range of produce.
Further information and access to the online application form is available on the Invest NI website.
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss a potential project, commercially in confidence, or have any queries relating to CAFRE’s role with the Innovation Voucher applications and project delivery, please do not hesitate to contact: loughry.foodtechnology@daera-ni.gov.uk.
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