The demand for fresh foods, processed foods and food ingredients in Asian markets is projected to double by 2050. This presents a significant opportunity for Australia’s food and agribusiness sector.
Our capabilities in food engineering, food science, digital manufacturing and supply chain innovation deliver sustainable impact to both small and medium-sized enterprises and the larger corporations we work with.
We provide a key competitive advantage by assisting businesses from initial product and process development through to translation and scale-up at factory sites. Such technical innovation can be highly effective in reducing costs, value-adding and building a stronger competitive position in the global market.
Our program helps food manufacturers:
- access food science and engineering skills from a wide range of specialist areas
- identify and implement opportunities for process improvement, innovation and new product development
- develop new or improved ‘clean label’ foods, as well as new protein sources, through formulation, processing and scale-up stages
- apply digital sensing and data analytics to reduce process bottlenecks and optimise supply chain or manufacturing performance
- develop solutions to waste management and sustainability challenges.
ARC hubs
The Australian Research Council has funded two Industrial Transformation Research Hubs – the Dairy Innovation Hub and the Food Value Chain Hub – that underpin our research.
The Dairy Innovation Hub is co-funded by Dairy Australia, Lion Dairy & Drinks, Saputo Dairy Australia and Bega Cheese. The Food Value Chain Hub is co-funded by Mondelez.
Get in touch
We are client-focussed and collaborative – we work side-by-side with your leaders, engineers and scientists to develop solutions to your challenges.
From complex multi-partner research to short consulting projects, talk to us about your needs for:
- Emerging technologies
- Developing technology strategies
- Engineering customised solutions
- Leveraging our state-of-the-art research facilities
Let us help you solve your technology challenges.
- Professor Sally Gras
Program Leader, Food and Agribusiness
Team members
Dr Martin Palmer, Enterprise Fellow, Chemical Engineering
Prof Sandra Kentish, Head of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Assoc Prof Greg Martin, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Prof Amanda Ellis, Chemical Engineering
Prof Marcello La Rosa, Computing and Information Systems
Prof Ray Dagastine, Chemical Engineering
Dr Anthony Stickland, Chemical Engineering
Prof Greg Qiao, Deputy Head of Chemical Engineering
Assoc Prof Sherah Kurnia, Computing and Information Systems
Dr Brian Pang, Research, Innovation and Commercial Engagement
Media enquiries
Prue Gildea
Media Advisor, Melbourne School of Engineering
Telephone: +61 3 9035 4306
Mobile: +61 466 473 741
Email: prue.gildea@unimelb.edu.au