The announcement was made by the company's Chief Executive, Philip Clarke, who was in Belfast to launch a new Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University.
On Thursday, he admitted the horsemeat crisis had "shaken consumer's confidence in all of us involved in the food supply chain."
Mr Clarke continued: "Customers, whatever price they pay and whichever products they can afford, have the right to expect that the product in the pack is what it says on the pack. When they discovered they couldn't be sure that was the case, their confidence in our industry was hit hard."
Earlier this week, Tesco removed a product made in Northern Ireland from its shelves after it was found to contain horsemeat. The 600g packs of frozen Tesco Simply Roast Meatloaf were supplied by Eurostock in Craigavon, Co Armagh.
Tests revealed the product, which was manufactured between October 2012 and January 2013, contained between 2% and 5% horsemeat.
It was the fourth product the major retailer has had to withdraw out of over 500 products checked as part of its DNA testing programme.
Tesco is the largest customer for food producers on the island of Ireland buying £1 billion of foodstuffs each year.
And on Thursday, Tesco's chief pledged that the chain will go from sourcing less than 20% of the meat sold by them locally to around 90%.
"And we're not going to stop there - we're going to do everything within our power to get as close as we can to 100%," he added.
Mr Clarke said they are doing all they can to restore confidence.
"We are implementing a world-leading DNA testing programme on all processed beef coming into our supply chain," he explained.
"Talking specifically about Northern Ireland, I know just how important agriculture is to the economy here.
"Tesco is a major supporter of Northern Irish agriculture. We spend over £500m a year on local products, and now stock around 1,800 from 90 Northern Irish suppliers. And we want to do more."
Mr Clarke addressed an audience of 250 invited guests in the university's Riddel Hall, speaking on the subject 'Competing in a changing global food supply chain'.
He also met representatives from leading food companies during a high-level roundtable discussion.
Queen's University has invested £33m in the Global Food Security project which aims to improve food safety locally and internationally.
The new institute will play a key role in efforts to provide the world's growing population with a sustainable, safe and secure supply of high quality food.
Staff will work alongside the food sector in NI, and right around the world, to improve the integrity of the food chain and deliver the best value and quality to the consumer.
Mr Clarke also officially opened a new £2.5m laboratory complete with state-of-the-art equipment.
It will be capable of undertaking unique forms of testing in a bid to provide early warning of food contamination and adulteration if needed.
Part financed from the European Regional Development Fund, Invest NI is also supporting the laboratory instrumentation and some of the research activities within it.
Professor Chris Elliott said: "As CEO of Tesco plc, Philip Clarke's attendance at Queen's today is testament to how significant this new Institute for Global Food Security is for the food sector, not just here in Northern Ireland, but worldwide.
"We want to build a 'food-fortress', ensuring everything we import is of the highest quality and that what we sell locally and internationally is also 100 per cent safe, nutritious and authentic.
"This new Institute will ensure that we can continue to recruit the best students into our food programmes, creating the food-leaders of the future who have been trained in one of the world's best equipped research laboratories."
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill said the boost from the retail giant will be welcomed by farmers across the north.
"I would urge the other major supermarket retailers to follow the lead set by Tesco and increase the amount that they source locally," the Sinn Féin politician said.