Focused on food
Twelve food manufacturers and biotech industry representatives are meeting today at the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre to discuss ways of increasing innovation in their industries.
“There are many cases where a problem presented by community or industry partner can raise deep scholarly challenges." Professor Duncan Ivison
The partners, from a diverse group of suppliers and manufactures, are members of the University’s ARC Food Processing Training Centre (ARC-FPTC). Together with their University collaborators the group will discuss issues such as ‘challenges of a global food chain’ and ‘nutrition in a commercial world’.
Professor Fariba Dehghani, Director of the ARCFPT Centre says:
“Our centre aims to support businesses to design better methods of food processing and storage, and to develop advanced manufacturing techniques aimed at reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency.
“A key goal is to work with industry to help boost Australia’s capacity to compete in the global market, particularly in the production of nutraceuticals – food products fortified with vitamins or minerals that provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of chronic and acute diseases,” says Professor Dehghani.
The ARC Centre which draws on expertise from across the University designs cost-effective and sustainable processes for producing these products with a view to minimising waste, enhancing efficiency and reducing energy consumption.
Professor Duncan Ivison, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University says industry engagement provides exciting new perspectives and challenges for University of Sydney researchers.
“There are many cases where a problem presented by community or industry partner can raise deep scholarly challenges, not just around the translation of basic research, but also in the basic research itself.
“Programs such as our ARC Food Processing Training Centre helps us equip our researchers and students with the skills to interact with the world beyond academia, and to help them consider and articulate a possible path, however long, from basic research to some future impact on society.
“The Centre also demonstrates how we successfully engaged with industry, and attract and harness substantial additional resources to drive further research,” says Professor Ivison.
The multi-disciplinary research team works closely with industry partners including AB Mauri Technology & Development Pty Ltd, Ecopha dn Bhd, PharmaCare laboratory Pty Ltd, Stahmann Farms Enterprises Pty Ltd, Lang Technologies International Pty Ltd, Agricure Pty Ltd, Marine Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd, Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd., Batlow Premium Juices, Sanitarium, Peanut Company of Australia Limited, and Baxter.
Media Contact: Victoria Hollick T 02 9351 2579 M 0401 711 361
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