RMIT University has launched its Food Innovation Hub on the Bundoora campus, bringing collectively analysis, schooling and business engagement to assist innovation throughout the meals sector.
The Hub varieties a part of RMIT’s broader funding in well being and science capabilities at Bundoora, which is being developed as a centre for vocational and better schooling, research and business collaboration.
Combining experience in meals expertise, vitamin and meals science, the Hub goals to assist business deal with challenges throughout the meals system, assist the event of latest merchandise and processes, and contribute to more healthy and extra sustainable meals outcomes.
The initiative builds on RMIT’s established meals science and expertise capabilities and is meant to strengthen hyperlinks between researchers, college students and business companions.
Food Innovation Hub director professor Mirjana Prica mentioned collaboration with business can be central to the Hub’s actions.
“We’re excited to progress critical industry-relevant research through this Hub and invite industry to partner with us on this journey,” Prica mentioned.
“Translation is a big hole in Australian meals analysis. We wish to deal with that by working carefully with business to determine alternatives, co-create options and ship analysis with sensible functions and business prepared workforce to unlock worth throughout the meals system.
“One area where we see strong potential is value-added food production, transforming raw materials, mostly commodities, into high-value functional ingredients and foods using advanced engineering, processing and packaging technologies.”
The Hub will function from RMIT’s Food Research and Innovation Centre, a facility designed to assist product improvement, meals processing analysis and business collaboration. Researchers, college students and business companions will be capable of take a look at ideas, consider applied sciences and develop new approaches to meals manufacturing and vitamin.
STEM College affiliate deputy vice-chancellor, analysis and innovation, distinguished professor Sujeeva Setunge mentioned the Hub aligns with RMIT’s give attention to analysis that delivers sensible outcomes.
“Our STEM-focused innovation hubs are designed around big questions and areas of significant challenge, rather than individual disciplines,” Setunge mentioned.
“The Food Innovation Hub will help researchers and students bridge the gap between scientific discovery and product development, translating research from the lab to the real world to benefit industry, people and communities.”
The launch follows latest RMIT analysis exploring using ultrasound expertise to extract protein from discarded cauliflower leaves. The analysis recognized potential alternatives to recuperate worth from vegetable waste streams and assist the event of different protein elements for meals manufacturing.