Naturally functional foods that fight disease…environmentally friendly food packaging…new probiotic juices…and natural antimicrobial treatments to keep food fresh for longer.
These are just some of the topics to be discussed when The University of Queensland presents the first of its Future Food Forums for industry on Tuesday, September 28 at its St Lucia campus.
Food industry representatives are invited to find out what’s new in food technology, what it could mean for food products in the future, and how UQ research can help their business.
Sharing their expertise with the food industry about food trends, new products and new technologies and how companies can access funding schemes to support their R&D projects is an initiative of UQ’s School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences and its main research commercialisation company, UniQuest.
Forum convenor Ranjan Sharma said the program offered a variety of topics at the cutting edge of food innovation.
“Industry guests will hear topics ranging from environmentally-friendly food packaging and bio-plastics to using spice and herb extracts to keep foods fresher for longer,” Dr Sharma said.
“We’ll be talking about the ways we are meeting consumers’ increasing demand for fresh, natural, additive-free, full-flavoured, nutritious products with the latest alternatives to heat pasteurisation, like high pressure processing.
“Another presenter will show how UQ scientists analyse food preferences of people of different ages and from different cultures.
"This service can help food companies to refine their product lines and marketing strategies for new products.”
UniQuest Managing Director Mr David Henderson said connecting industry with science in this way offered positive impacts to the economy, the environment, and public health and well-being.
“The University of Queensland is a premier partner of various Australian and international food industry producers, suppliers and supporters," Mr Henderson said.
"Industry engagement like this can lead to businesses developing a competitive edge, improving their food products, and contributing to better health outcomes for the community.
“UQ has the largest university food research program in Australia.
"UQ's food researchers have extensive food industry experience and are keen to work with local food companies to ensure the food industry in Queensland and Australia remains viable.
“There are many different ways food companies can interact with UQ, including contributing to research projects or contracting UQ researchers to undertake commercial research or consulting projects.
"Supporting postgraduate students is another way the food industry can sustain its own development for the future.”
The UniQuest Innovation and Commercial Development Manager, Cameron Turner, will provide more information on the different ways food companies can engage with UQ food scientists and benefit from access to the latest innovations.
“Whether you’re looking to invest in new technologies, to commission innovative research, or for advice from consultants, the Future Foods Forum is an excellent opportunity to meet food scientists with the ideas, technology and skills to add value to your business,” Mr Turner said.
“The significant number of registrations we have received already indicates there is a need for this kind of engagement and networking activity.
"It’s going to be very beneficial for everyone.”
Registrations will be accepted until September 24 via an online form set up by the University’s School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences: www.uq.edu.au/lcafs/futurefoodsforum.
Media enquiries: Leanne Wyvill +61 7 3365 4037, 0409 767 199 or l.wyvill@uniquest.com.au
About UniQuest
Established by The University of Queensland in 1984, UniQuest is widely recognised as one of Australia’s largest and most successful university commercialisation groups, benchmarking in the top tier of technology transfer worldwide. It has created more than 60 companies, and since 2000 UniQuest and its start-ups have raised more than $340 million to take university technologies to market. UniQuest commercialises innovations developed at The University of Queensland, University of Wollongong, University of Technology Sydney, James Cook University, University of Tasmania, the Mater Medical Research Institute and two ARC Centres of Excellence. As well, UniQuest can access thousands of researchers and experts and tailor a consulting or project R&D solution to meet the needs of industry and government. UniQuest is also a leading Australasian provider of international development assistance projects. Working with agencies such as AusAID, NZAID, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank, UniQuest has developed and implemented more than 400 projects in 46 countries throughout the Pacific, South-East Asia, the Indian sub-continent and Africa. For more information about UniQuest, please visit www.uniquest.com.au.
About UQ’s School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences
The School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences is one of four Schools in the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (NRAVS), formed in 2007 by the merging of the School of Land and Food Sciences with the School of Agronomy and Horticulture. The School is responsible for teaching and research in agricultural and food science and technology, providing certificate, associate degree and degree programs at undergraduate level, and postgraduate programs by coursework or research. The School is one of Australia's leading providers of postgraduate research training in the agricultural, natural resource and food sciences disciplines. Graduates provide local and national industries with the informed expertise that is now essential in a competitive market place, and its postgraduate training and research programs have achieved international recognition and acclaim. A science-based but practical approach focuses on the specific research needs of the agricultural, environmental and food industries. The School’s facilities include a 1000 hectare farm, nursery and tissue culture facilities, research laboratories and greenhouses, post-harvest facilities and an extensive range of modern agricultural and horticultural plant and machinery.
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