A PROJECT linking the region's food and drink producers with academics was launched yesterday.

For the first time, academic expertise in areas such as brewing, food storage and preservation, nutrition and logistics will be available to North-East food and drink manufacturers on the Internet.

The food and drink industry employs about 20,000 people in the region.

The Internet support service was launched by Sir Donald Curry, the Government's key advisor on food and farming.

Researchers Karl Christensen and Kirsten Brandt, at Newcastle University, have spent the past year gathering information about the research capabilities of the region's five universities.

Mr Christensen said: "This will be a unique asset to our region's food and drink industry and one that will play a major role in keeping this vitally important sector competitive.

"For the first time, it matches company needs to the research that is already being advanced or that can be specifically commissioned by our region's academics."

The service brings together the strengths of each of the region's universities.

Roger McKecknie, of Tanfield Foods, near Stanley, County Durham, said: "This is a great step forward.

"Finally, the needs of the food companies in the region will be central to the focus of active researchers connected with all aspects of food and drink in the North-East."

The project was established by regional development agency One NorthEast. Next year, it will be extended to the North-West and Yorkshire. The website is at www.north eastfoodanddrink.co.uk