Food innovation hub launches

Western Australia’s state-of-the-art agrifood and beverage precinct, tipped to deliver up to $330 million into the economy, has officially opened.

The Food Innovation Precinct WA (FIPWA) in the Shire of Murray was unveiled by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis and Regional Development Minister Don Punch today.

The precinct - named Mereny Bidi Boodja, meaning Food, Pathway, Country in the local Noongar language – is backed by more than $65 million in state and federal funding.

It aims to support growth and innovation for WA agrifood and technology businesses, commercialise research and development, develop agri-food technology and contribute to exports through value-added activities while also strengthening the domestic supply chain.

Locally, the hub will help address the Shire of Murray’s high unemployment rate, retain employment within the Peel region and foster youth education.

Economic modelling by Murdoch University suggests the precinct could boost WA’s food and beverage sector output between 1 and 3 per cent in the first five years of operation.

“This equates to between seventeen and fifty-one new food businesses delivering benefits to the state’s economy, including growth in its food and beverage sector output by between $110 million and $330 million,” according to Murdoch.

The shire partnered with Murdoch, Spinifex Brewery, Singapore-based GrowHub Innovations Company and the local Aboriginal community to realise the centre.

Located in the Peel Business Park, the multifaceted hub is split into three buildings including the innovation centre, the research and development centre and the food and beverage production centre.

The research and development centre is managed and run by Murdoch University and includes the Food Technology Facility, which will be used in collaboration with the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

At the facility, the partners will work together on projects that assist food businesses test, develop and produce new and enhanced products using advanced manufacturing technologies.

The innovation centre is a co-working space for small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs to collaborate, monetise their services and expand their networks with support from agri-tech company GrowHub.

The food and beverage production centre is a common-use food technology facility which houses advanced manufacturing equipment for businesses to develop, test and produce new and improved products.

Its also located in the same complex as Spinifex Brewery, which is running a microbrewery in the production centre to produce beverages infused with Australian native botanicals.

“This exciting new addition to WA’s agrifood and beverage sector will lift the collective potential of our primary industries, fostering ideas, networks, relationships and collaborations from production to consumption,” Ms Jarvis said.

“The precinct provides world-class facilities, equipment and expertise to test, trial and explore options, providing businesses with the confidence to pursue commercialisation and launch their products to the world, creating benefits throughout the supply chain.

“This fantastic initiative will help transform agrifood and beverage ideas and business proposals into new products and customer relationships that support our export orientated economy.”