A new innovative 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-added food production.
The WA 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.
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.
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 long-term large-scale production and equipment.
To kick start operations at the SIFT Centre, the state 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.
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said: “The SIFT Centre will help remove some financial risk for small business owners – allowing them to test and refine products at a commercial scale, without having to invest in their equipment.
“I encourage small business owners looking to expand production to visit FIPWA and investigate the grants on offer,” said Jarvis.
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.
