By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia
Using a proposed incubator-type facility, University of
Georgia food scientists in Griffin, Ga., plan to help more food
industry representatives launch new food products from Georgia
commodities.
“Some 15,000 new food products are introduced annually in the
United States,” said Rakesh Singh, head of the UGA Food Science
and Technology Department. “Of those, 80 percent are withdrawn in
two years, which translates into a loss of $4 billion.”
New businesses need nurturing
The way Singh and his food scientists see it, that failure
rate means new food businesses need more nurturing. To do that,
the department hopes to open an incubator facility on the UGA
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ campus in
Griffin, Ga.
The facility would be part of the existing Food Product
Innovation and Commercialization program there. It would serve as
a partnership between small food business entrepreneurs, UGA food
scientists and the Griffin-Spalding County community. Funding
for the 19,000 square-foot facility is currently being sought
from federal, state, local and private sources.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for our community to be
involved in research and commercialization of new products,” said
David Luckie, director of the Griffin-Spalding County Development
Authority. “Of course, we selfishly would like to see the new
businesses develop here in our county.”
Strengthen, advise and release
Singh said the new facility would give companies a stronger
start. “Small companies could come to Griffin and establish their
businesses in-house with support from UGA faculty,” he said.
“(Then they would) reach a stage when they would be ready to open
their own businesses or expand existing product lines.”
At the Food PIC facility, new business owners would be guided
in product development, packaging, food safety, consumer
acceptance, marketing and a host of other areas, Singh said.
Singh saw a similar project through to fruition while working
at Purdue University. He says programs like the Food PIC program
help smaller companies, farmers and entrepreneurs produce niche
products, offer customized services and target speciality
markets.
For years, he said, Georgia farmers have grown and sold bulk
commodities. Then a processor converts their crops into
high-value products and reaps the profits.
“The Food PIC program and the incubator facility would help
them take advantage of niche markets the megacompanies can’t
serve efficiently,” Singh said. “Our growers ought to produce
niche products and not bulk commodities. They can’t compete with
megacompanies in selling what those large companies sell
globally.”
