- New $12.2 million Sustainable Innovative Food
Technologies Centre to boost local food and beverage manufacturing in Western
Australia
- Cook Government investing in innovation and jobs
across WA and the regions
A new state-of-the-art food manufacturing
centre, which is set to open in Western Australia, will help boost local food
and beverage manufacturing, as well as drive growth in the State's value-add
food production.
The Cook Government has invested $12.2 million into the establishment of the Sustainable,
Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre located within the Food Innovation
Precinct of WA (FIPWA) in the Peel Business Park at Nambeelup.
In 2021 the State Government made an election commitment to build the SIFT Centre and this commitment is now coming to life.
Funded through the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and operated by the Future Food
Systems Co-operative Research Centre (RRSCRC) and Murdoch University, the
facility is fitted out with the latest in food and beverage manufacturing
equipment including a high-pressure processing unit - which is one of only two
in the State - used to cold pasteurise foods. The unit will help extend the shelf
life of products while preserving natural nutrition and flavour.
The SIFT Centre is open to all WA food and beverage
businesses that are seeking a low-risk environment to scale up production by
offering common use of manufacturing equipment at a subsidised rate.
Businesses can test, develop, and produce new
and improved value-added food products on a commercial scale to determine
market demand and source buyers before investing in their own long-term
large-scale production and equipment.
To kick start operations at the SIFT Centre,
the Cook Government is partnering with the Shire of Murray to provide a $3.8
million Enterprise Support Program.
The program is offering grants of up to
$600,000, provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis, to food and beverage
businesses to use FIPWA to commercialise a product, undertake collaborative
research and development, or utilise manufacturing equipment, or to access
other FIPWA space, facilities and services.
More information on the Enterprise Support
Program is available at fipwa.com.au/enterprisesupportprogram.
The SIFT Centre will officially open on Friday,
23 February 2024.
Comments attributed to Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Some iconic food brands have come out of
Australia, and the new Sustainable, Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre
offers WA's food and beverage industry an incredible opportunity to develop the
next big thing.
"The SIFT Centre will
help remove some financial risk for small businesses owners - allowing them to
test and refine products at a commercial scale, without having to invest in
their own equipment.
"The SIFT Centre is
projected to grow the State's local value-added industry, create more than 150
direct jobs, and inject around $100 million into the economy.
"I encourage small business owners looking to
expand production to visit FIPWA and investigate the grants on offer."
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"More than a third of our
State's 1,500food and beverage businesses are
based in regional Western Australia, so providing access to innovative
manufacturing technology will provide a direct benefit to our regional economies, and create more job
opportunities in the regions.
"FIPWA is providing a state-of-the-art hub for WA's food and beverage
industries to develop new value-added products, and last year I was able to see
the success of some of these projects firsthand.
"This includes Spinifex Brewing Co's canning line which received a
$150,000 Regional Economic Development grant in 2021, and is driving an
increase in packaged beer sales in domestic and export markets.
"I strongly encourage all
interested agri-businesses to access the Enterprise Support Program grants
program, which also provides an opportunity to explore new product
opportunities and access manufacturing equipment."
Comments attributed to
Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
"In 2021 the State Government made a promise to support WA's food and beverage sector by establishing the SIFT Centre in my electorate, and its completion is proof that we follow through on our commitments.
"These state-of-the-art
facilities will not only support local jobs, but could help develop the next big
Australian household staple."
