Teagasc is a government research institute under the Department of Agriculture in Ireland. It has responsibility for agricultural research, advice, training and education. It has 6 major Research Centres and a network of offices throughout the country with 1500 employees. Moorepark Food Research Centre (one of the major Research Centres) aims to achieve excellence in the provision of research based technological support to food companies. It has 120 employees in three Departments; Food Cultures and Safety, Biotechnology and Functional Ingredients and Processing. Within the Department of Food Cultures and Safety, food safety is one of the main objectives. Ensuring safe products underpins one of our main objectives of creating opportunities based on the competitive advantages we have. We have expertise in the study of foodborne pathogens (including Listeria spp.) and have supported the food industry in Ireland with regard to Listeria spp. for many years. We have a restricted access laboratory for work with foodborne pathogens and have all the necessary equipment needed for the project. We have extensive experience in participation in EU Framework projects. (Kieran Jordan)