Two northern suburbs institutions will host a Food Innovation Precinct in Bundoora, linking scientific researchers, producers and food businesses on various projects.
La Trobe University and RMIT University will work together at La Trobe’s Research and Development Park in Bundoora to improve such things as processed food exports, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Senator Joe Ludwig.
“The precinct will help collaboration right across Australia’s food and beverage industry,” he said.
“The new precinct will build more links between researchers, producers and food businesses to accelerate commercially driven collaboration and innovation.
“An important aim is to support growth in Australia’s market share of processed food exports to existing and new markets.
“The precinct will help us work towards the National Food Plan goal to increase the value of Australia’s agriculture and food-related exports by 45 per cent by 2025.”
He said the universities had been awarded the right to host the precinct for a year initially.
La Trobe vice-chancellor Professor John Dewar said the university was committed to innovative food and agricultural research and “partnering with the food production and manufacturing industry to translate our research into real world benefits for industry and consumers”.
RMIT University vice-chancellor and president Professor Gill Palmer said RMIT was the largest provider of graduates to the Australian food industry and had extensive links to national and international food companies and research organisations.
