The Food Industry Innovation Precinct, part of the Government's $504.5 million Industry Innovation Precincts initiative, will be established at La Trobe University's R&D Park Bundoora campus, in Melbourne’s north.
The Food Industry Innovation Precinct board accepted an offer from La Trobe University and RMIT to host the precinct for an interim 12-month period to enable all potential hosts to prepare more detailed bids to host the precinct permanently.
The Bundoora campus will provide access to infrastructure such as pilot plant and food preparation and tasting laboratories and is located close to food industry partners in sectors such as dairy, confectionery, meat and cereal.
Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, said establishing the precinct at the R&D Park would enable it to start building opportunities for Australia’s food industry and meeting the goals of the National Food Plan.
“The industry is already a major exporter, however the precinct will ensure it is able to develop the capacity and capability to take advantage of export industries in the Asian century,” the minister said.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the precinct was an important element of implementing the National Food Plan released last month.
“This 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,” Minister Ludwig said.
“The new precinct will build more links between researchers, producers and food businesses to accelerate commercially-driven collaboration and innovation.”
The Industry Innovations Precincts Program is a part of the Australian Government’s $1 billion Plan for Australian Jobs.
The food industry precinct finds a temporary home at La Trobe University’s R&D Park Bundoora campus.
