Melbourne universities to host Asia-focused food research centre

The Australian government has chosen La Trobe University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University to jointly host the initial phase of a food industry research centre that will focus on boosting exports to Asia.

The universities will work together to establish the Food Industry Innovation Precinct at La Trobe’s technology park at Bundoora, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

As part of the government’s recently announced $504.5 million plan to establish up to 10 Industry Innovation Precincts to support Australian manufacturing, the centre will help the nation’s food manufacturers develop new technologies, identify new markets and increase processed food and beverage exports to Asian markets.