Published Monday, 09 February, 2009 at 03:44 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Super mangos to be developed at new Health and Food Sciences Precinct
Mangos designed to combat disease and appeal to more consumers is the goal of one of the research projects to be undertaken in Australia’s first Health and Food Sciences Precinct, now under construction in Brisbane.
Situated at Coopers Plains, the Precinct’s focus will be on helping Queenslanders live longer and healthier lives.
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Jan Jarratt today visited Innovative Food Technologies at Hamilton where Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Research Scientist Heather Smyth uses a ‘sniffing’ machine to measure the flavours and the quality of mango varieties from all over the world.
“The machine which will be sniffing mangos grown at Mareeba by the DPI&F is the most advanced one of its kind in Australia,” Ms Smyth said.
“It is able to ‘sniff’ out the varieties of mango which consumers are most attracted to.
“Eventually scientists will breed these varieties with mangos containing very high nutrient values to create a ‘super’ mango.
“The aim is to create a super mango variety containing genes to make both the right flavour compounds and the natural chemicals to help fight metabolic disorders like Type 2 diabetes.”
The researchers will move to the Health and Food Sciences Precinct when it opens in 2010.
Ms Jarratt said the Coopers Plains facility would be located on the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services campus and be the only research precinct in Australia focussed on health and food issues and animal biosecurity.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said it won’t be long before scientists will be working on developing new and more flavoursome food products with increased health benefits right here in Queensland.
“Imagine being able to eat sweet corn that will help stem degenerative eye conditions or milk and margarines which help to lower cholesterol.
“Scientists will also look at creating products such as snack foods with sorghum to slow digestion and prevent over-eating.
“These new products will hopefully encourage more Queenslanders to choose healthier lifestyles and ultimately lower rising obesity levels in Australia.
“It will house around 200 scientists from the DPI&F and the CSIRO, boosting the existing complement of scientists and researchers from Queensland Health already on the site,” she said.
Ms Boyle said it is hoped the research will also stimulate industries like agriculture, creating more jobs in the future.
“The idea is to make these foods more attractive to consumers so they’ll buy more therefore increasing demand.
Ms Boyle added that scientists would lead the fight against exotic pests and diseases threatening the State’s agricultural industries and unique biodiversity, particularly in North Queensland.
“They will also investigate animal bio-security to protect Queensland meat and meat products from natural fungal and plant toxins,” she said.
“These toxins include those responsible for pimelea poisoning, which is a major cause of cattle deaths in southern, south west and central western parts of Queensland.
“Three annual native species of Pimelea native plants contain toxins which can result in intestinal irritation, severe swelling of the head, neck and brisket and subsequent heart failure in cattle.”
Ms Boyle said the new Health and Food Sciences Precinct was part of the State Government’s Towards Q2 Tomorrow’s Queensland vision.
“We want Queenslanders to be the nation’s healthiest by the Year 2020,” she said.
Ms Jarratt said the new Precinct would complement the State Government’s Ecosciences Precinct at the Boggo Road Urban Village redevelopment.
“The Government is contributing $290 million to both Precincts, in partnership with the CSIRO, which is putting in almost $88 million,” she said.
“Once the Ecosciences Precinct is complete in 2011, it will house more than 1000 scientists from the CSIRO, the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence and Queensland Government departments of Natural Resources and Water, Primary Industries and Fisheries, Mines and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“These highly-trained researchers will address major challenges such as climate change, water and the sustainable growth of the State’s industries.”
9 February, 2009
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Innovative Food Technologies: Heather Smyth, 3406 8626 or David Burgin, 3234 1182
Situated at Coopers Plains, the Precinct’s focus will be on helping Queenslanders live longer and healthier lives.
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Jan Jarratt today visited Innovative Food Technologies at Hamilton where Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Research Scientist Heather Smyth uses a ‘sniffing’ machine to measure the flavours and the quality of mango varieties from all over the world.
“The machine which will be sniffing mangos grown at Mareeba by the DPI&F is the most advanced one of its kind in Australia,” Ms Smyth said.
“It is able to ‘sniff’ out the varieties of mango which consumers are most attracted to.
“Eventually scientists will breed these varieties with mangos containing very high nutrient values to create a ‘super’ mango.
“The aim is to create a super mango variety containing genes to make both the right flavour compounds and the natural chemicals to help fight metabolic disorders like Type 2 diabetes.”
The researchers will move to the Health and Food Sciences Precinct when it opens in 2010.
Ms Jarratt said the Coopers Plains facility would be located on the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services campus and be the only research precinct in Australia focussed on health and food issues and animal biosecurity.
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Desley Boyle said it won’t be long before scientists will be working on developing new and more flavoursome food products with increased health benefits right here in Queensland.
“Imagine being able to eat sweet corn that will help stem degenerative eye conditions or milk and margarines which help to lower cholesterol.
“Scientists will also look at creating products such as snack foods with sorghum to slow digestion and prevent over-eating.
“These new products will hopefully encourage more Queenslanders to choose healthier lifestyles and ultimately lower rising obesity levels in Australia.
“It will house around 200 scientists from the DPI&F and the CSIRO, boosting the existing complement of scientists and researchers from Queensland Health already on the site,” she said.
Ms Boyle said it is hoped the research will also stimulate industries like agriculture, creating more jobs in the future.
“The idea is to make these foods more attractive to consumers so they’ll buy more therefore increasing demand.
Ms Boyle added that scientists would lead the fight against exotic pests and diseases threatening the State’s agricultural industries and unique biodiversity, particularly in North Queensland.
“They will also investigate animal bio-security to protect Queensland meat and meat products from natural fungal and plant toxins,” she said.
“These toxins include those responsible for pimelea poisoning, which is a major cause of cattle deaths in southern, south west and central western parts of Queensland.
“Three annual native species of Pimelea native plants contain toxins which can result in intestinal irritation, severe swelling of the head, neck and brisket and subsequent heart failure in cattle.”
Ms Boyle said the new Health and Food Sciences Precinct was part of the State Government’s Towards Q2 Tomorrow’s Queensland vision.
“We want Queenslanders to be the nation’s healthiest by the Year 2020,” she said.
Ms Jarratt said the new Precinct would complement the State Government’s Ecosciences Precinct at the Boggo Road Urban Village redevelopment.
“The Government is contributing $290 million to both Precincts, in partnership with the CSIRO, which is putting in almost $88 million,” she said.
“Once the Ecosciences Precinct is complete in 2011, it will house more than 1000 scientists from the CSIRO, the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence and Queensland Government departments of Natural Resources and Water, Primary Industries and Fisheries, Mines and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“These highly-trained researchers will address major challenges such as climate change, water and the sustainable growth of the State’s industries.”
9 February, 2009
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Innovative Food Technologies: Heather Smyth, 3406 8626 or David Burgin, 3234 1182