We've switched from a domestic to an export focus, the industry has become more fashion-conscious and the level of innovation you can see on supermarket shelves these days is simply astonishing. But if Australia's comparatively small food firms hope to match their multinational competitors, they need a strong research base - and Food Science Australia's mission is to deliver that, he says. It's a critical issue for consumers and an area of growing world awareness. Australia has an outstanding record in this area and FSA has assembled the leading food safety group in the southern hemisphere to keep it that way, Dr Eyles says. Our aim is to help manufacturers create processing systems that minimise the chances of health problems, and also to respond quickly and effectively if unexpected problems occur.
Food is now very much a fashion industry in which innovation sows the seeds of success.
The same applies to packaging and transport, another vital area for delivering food in the freshest, safest and most desirable form to the consumer, whether next door or across the world. For instance, in our labs we can simulate a complete voyage to Japan and identify all the things that can go wrong en route. We can then compare that with real life, using smart devices that travel with real food shipments and report back what happens on the way. Then we can design systems or materials to head off those problems. A major advance in the industry is the advent of foods which protect against diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, bowel problems and other degenerative disorders.