A state-of-the-art precinct in the Shire of Murray, Western Australia, is set to advance and accelerate agrifood, food, and beverage innovations in the state.
Known as Mereny Bidi Boodja, meaning ‘food, pathway, land/country’ in the local Noongar language, the precinct is the result of state and federal funding and key anchor partners.
It has a food and beverage production centre with a food technology facility, an innovation centre, and an R&D centre.
The Shire of Murray owns the site, built with a $21.75 million from the federal Regional Growth Fund. The West Australian government contributed $45 million to establish the common-use food tech facility, which features a manufacturing pilot plant to test food and beverage innovations at batch scale with the goal of `commercialisation.
Western Australia agriculture and food minister Jackie Jarvis said the precinct would lift the collective potential of the state’s agrifood and beverage sectors.
“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 will help transform agrifood and beverage ideas and business proposals into new products and customer relationships that support our export orientated economy,” Jarvis said.
Murdoch University is one of the anchor partners in collaboration with the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre, working with businesses on projects to help meet the increasing demand for sustainably produced products, along with advancing knowledge and production of better-for-you foods.
The university’s facility is part of a Food and Beverage Production Centre, assisting primary producers as well as food and beverage enterprises to test, develop, and produce new and enhanced value add products, using advanced manufacturing technologies and processes.
Murdoch Uni also manages the precinct’s R&D Centre, a teaching and education facility working with businesses throughout the value chain and training the future industry workforce.
Shire of Murray president David Bolt said, “The opening of the Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia is a landmark moment for the Shire of Murray and is the culmination of a huge effort by a large number of people over many years.
“I am grateful to our hardworking shire staff, supportive council, the Australian and state government, and key industry partners who shared the Shire’s vision and worked collaboratively to bring this innovative centre to fruition.”
Singapore-based food and agriTech company GrowHub is another anchor tenant, running an Innovation Centre and co-working space to connect small to medium sized entrepreneurs to vital services, nurture new concepts, and support Western Australian food and agricultural businesses access international markets.
There has been widespread business interest in the Food Innovation Precinct WA, with a brewing company using a microbrewery in the Production Centre to produce beverages infused with Australian native botanicals.
The third anchor tenant, Spinifex Brewing Company, champions Indigenous culture through infusing native botanicals into craft beers. It is using a microbrewery in the Production Centre.
The precinct is open to interested parties throughout Western Australia, interstate, and overseas from the commercial, public, and academic domains to advance and accelerate agrifood food and beverage innovations aiming to capture new market demand.
For more information on the precinct, visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/FIPWA.
