KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) –The Scientific Research Council (SRC), through its research and product development services, can help budding entrepreneurs turn their ideas into commercially viable businesses that can create wealth and employment.

The agency, which is International Standardisation Organisation (ISO): 9001 certified,  with ISO:17025 accredited laboratories, provides expertise in canning, processing of milk and milk products, freezing and dehydration techniques, and production of fruits and vegetable juices, purees and concentrates, sauces and seasonings.

At an affordable cost of 1, 800 per hour customers can access the full range of manufacturing services, including bottling and labeling, for products to be sold locally or exported.

The agency also offers contract research for food and personal care products, product scale-up and standardisation, certificate of analysis, and assistance to comply with the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration of the United States and other local and international regulatory agencies.

Executive Director of the SRC, Dr Cliff Riley, told JIS News that a large number of products developed by the SRC team or manufactured at its facilities are exported.

He noted that the SRC introduces about 40 new products every year. Items currently being manufactured include sauces, jams, chips, rum punch and flavoured water.

Through products developed and standardised by the Council, five of the agency’s clients have just made their entry on the Jamaica Junior Stock Exchange.

Riley informed that new and emerging businesses can benefit from having their product affiliated with the reputable SRC brand, by having ‘Original formulation developed by the SRC’ (for new formulations) placed on the product label.

Outlining the product development process, Riley explained that this involves extraction and processing of essential oils; identification of the active ingredients in medicinal and other local plants and development of value-added products utilising local material.

“If someone wants to make a tea for example, the SRC will apply scientific principles to develop the tea for optimal flavour and performance as well as test to see how safe and stable the tea is,” he pointed out.

“The SRC’s scientists will try to determine the best way to get out the active ingredients. Is it through percolation or boiling? Are there possible adverse effects?” he noted further.

Additional services offered by the SRC include packaging of meats including vacuum sealing, and meat smoking, which may interest customers during the festive season.