Chinese delegation tours health and food sciences precinct

Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson today accompanied the Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture on a tour of Queensland’s leading food technology and innovation facilities.

Vice Minister Zhang Taolin and Minister Donaldson toured the Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains where researchers in food technology, biosecurity and healthcare support Queensland’s agri-food industry, helping to underpin the state’s reputation for clean, green and sustainable produce.

The precinct is home to 190 scientists, technologists, engineers and technicians who help businesses and agricultural producers develop new and improved foods and processes for local and overseas markets.

Minister Donaldson said it was an honour to show the Chinese delegation some of the innovations that reinforce Queensland’s global reputation for safe, high quality produce.

“Earlier this month I was in China promoting Queensland’s agricultural exporters and telling importers and investors about our State’s premium quality meat, grains, fruit and vegetables,

“The potential for Queensland food and food product exports to China in the coming years is huge and today is a great opportunity to reinforce our message to the Vice Minister.

“Our producers are well placed to take advantage of China’s growing demands for new food products they can trust.”

The visit by the Chinese delegation is focussed on promoting bilateral investment and technical co-operation in agriculture.

On Saturday afternoon Vice Minister Zhang was due to visit Steritech at Narangba.

Steritech is the leading horticultural sterilisation processor in the Asia Pacific region.

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Additional information:

The Health and Food Sciences Precinct hosts 190 scientists, technologists, engineers and technicians from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and The University of Queensland through the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.

The Innovative Food Technologies team combines expertise in scientific research, food technology, processing, engineering, and sensory -consumer science, seafood technology, product creation, microbiology, grains and milling technology and Non-invasive technology to assist businesses and agricultural producers develop new and improved foods and processors for local and overseas retail markets. 

Key features of the food research technology available at the precinct include:

• workspaces and research laboratories for food science, microbiology, chemistry, post-harvest seafood, meat science, sensory sciences, shelf life research, animal nutrition and biochemical analysis
• a Food Pilot Plant for handling seafood, meat, beverages and horticulture products
• food processing capabilities including product development laboratories and consumer acceptance and focus group testing, grains milling, malting, wort production, baking and testing
• linkages to facilities and expertise in grains, remote sensing and large scale production capabilities centred in Toowoomba, Cairns and Werribee respectively.

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