State Government funding to help produce allergy-free ginger products

Buderim Ginger has been awarded $245,100 to create an allergy-free ginger product, Industry Minister Desley Boyle announced today.

The funding, from the State Government’s Business and Industry Transformation Incentives (BITI) scheme, will go towards the development of a new processing system that eliminates the need to use sulphites as a preservative.

“The BITI scheme encourages regional growth and also fits with the Premier’s new blueprint for growing a strong and smart economy – Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland,” Ms Boyle said.

Minister Boyle said that Yandina-based Buderim Ginger was one of the world’s leading manufacturers of confectionary ginger and exported its products to the USA, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Europe and Asia.

“Sulphites are a recognised allergen, particularly for people with respiratory disorders and the trend in food processing these days is to remove them,” Ms Boyle said.

“To maintain its competitive edge, and to safeguard its export market, Buderim Ginger is investigating a processing system that uses chlorine dioxide rather than sulphites.”

Mr Steve Dennis, Process and Engineering Manager at Buderim Ginger said the BITI funding would cover research into the performance of chlorine dioxide, the development of an automation system and the undertaking of trials.

“This funding will help us transform our operations and enhance the products we deliver to our customers which is the most important aspect of our business,” Mr Dennis said.

“By having an allergen-free product, with no sulphites, we will be able to deliver even healthier ginger products into new markets in Australia and overseas.”

Minister Boyle said that the project had potential application to other food processing sectors and was a great example of a Queensland company showing leadership.

“The BITI scheme supports projects that promote the transformation of priority industries and drive Queensland towards an internationally competitive, sustainable and knowledge-intensive future,” Ms Boyle said.

“It focuses on the big picture and the impact of a project on an industry and region as a whole,” Ms Boyle said.

“Small to medium enterprises operating in Queensland’s priority sectors can apply for between $30,000 and $250,000 for projects that have the potential to significantly expand their business, their industry and their region.”

The next round of BITI closes on 13 March 2009. For more information on BITI, visit www.industry.qld.gov.au/incentives

6 November 2008

Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Buderim Ginger: Steve Dennis, Process and Engineering Manager, 5447 8466 or 0408 547 575. Visit www.buderimginger.com