RMIT University has launched a Food Innovation Hub at the Bundoora campus, aiming to strengthen Australia’s food systems towards healthier, sustainable food.
The development forms part of the university’s broader health investment at Bundoora and will bring together its capabilities in food technology and nutrition with education, research, and industry partnerships.
According to Professor Mirjana Prica, the hub’s director, the initiative builds on the potential of value-added production, turning raw materials into high-value functional ingredients and foods through advanced engineering, processing and packaging technologies.
By working closely with industry, the hub aims to address real-world challenges, equip the future workforce, and translate research and technology into greater impact, Prica stresses.
“Translation is a huge gap in Australian food research.
“We want to address that by identifying opportunities, co-creating solutions and delivering research with practical applications and an industry-ready workforce to unlock value across the food system,” she said.
Professor Sujeeva Setunge added that the hub will help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and product development, reflecting RMIT’s strategy to deliver research with real-world impact for industry, people and communities.
The hub will be based at the campus’s Food Research and Innovation Centre, a facility that supports researchers, students and industry partners on testing ideas and developing new approaches.
- Further reading: RMIT launches food research centre.
