New research partnership to boost food and beverage manufacturing

Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm officially launched a new research partnership last night which will contribute to doubling the value of Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing sector by 2030.

The University of Queensland is partnering with the University of Southern Queensland and Queensland University of Technology to deliver the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA).

Senator Chisholm said the FaBA will bring together some of Australia’s top researchers with industry leaders to pioneer more efficient ways of manufacturing foods and beverages, and develop more nutritional and sustainable products. 

“Recent disruptions to global supply chains demonstrated how important it is for Australia to increase our food manufacturing capabilities to better meet domestic and international demand,” Senator Chisholm said.

“FaBA will give Queensland’s food and beverage industry a significant boost and will generate an estimated 1,700 skilled jobs, 20 new start-ups and 30 new products and ingredients.”

UQ was one of six universities to receive $50 million through the Government’s Trailblazer Universities Program. Trailblazer universities, including UQ, will also share in $45 million to access specialised equipment at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. The Australian Government's funding support for the FaBA will be supplemented by an additional $110 million from industry and research participants.

“This substantial investment will see our world-class research being translated into new commercially viable products which can make a difference to Australian and international food security,” Senator Chisholm said.

“Importantly, the FaBA will be working closely with its industry partners, including All G Foods, Eden Brew, and Nourish Ingredients who have been announced today.

“It will also train the next generation of Australian researchers across food science, biotechnology and engineering to build industry-related capabilities in the food and beverage sector.”