The Food Futures national research programme, launched yesterday at the Outlook 2004 Conference in Canberra, will use frontier technologies like proteomics, genomics, biosensors and bioactives to transform the food chain.
It will include work to redesign the composition of grains so that they could help prevent bowel cancer and heart disease and identifying healthy bioactive ingredients in meat and dairy produce.
The programme aims to improve the competitive edge of Australia's food industry, adding $3 billion a year in value to its farm and food products within a decade, according to the flagship director Dr Bruce Lee.
It also represents strong government backing for innovation in the food industry."Today the consumer is king as far as food is concerned, and Food Futures is also focusing major effort on finding out exactly what consumers want and don't want in the way of foods, flavours and health requirements. We intend to make sure our products will match their needs and preferences," said Lee.
"We know most people want healthier foods that will help reduce their risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, overweight and other chronic conditions - but at the same time they want food to be delicious, safe and easy to prepare. If people can eat food they know is doing them good and still find it delicious, it will help alleviate the guilt we all sometimes feel about enjoying Australia's great food," he added.
The initiative will link researchers with farmers, governments and the food industry and work with bodies like the Grains R&D Corporation, the Dairy R&D Corporation, the Fisheries R&D Corporation and the Grape & Wine R&D Corporation.