Cairns hosts discussions to commercialise skin blemished bananas

An R&D forum has been held in Cairns to evaluate the commercial feasibility of banana waste utilisation in the processed food industry.

The overall objective of the R&D Forum was to identify and develop a range of Australian grown and made products utilising skin blemished bananas and to create value through integration across growers and processors.

R&D Forums, held throughout Australia, facilitate a process of driving innovation and collaboration to solve specific industry challenges and take advantage of emerging opportunities. The forums achieve this by bringing together researchers, technology providers, potential end-users of research and other significant stakeholders  to explore specific opportunities whereby industry capability and R&D activities can be leveraged to meet end-users’ existing or future market needs.

The Cairns-based R&D forum, facilitated by the Australian Institute for Commercialisation (AIC), on behalf of Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development (DEEDI), was held to:

•    Understand the current state of the banana industry in Australia;
•    Help the research sector understand the needs of industry and other stakeholders;
•    Encourage research through industry linkages and collaborations;
•    Identify a range of Australian grown and made products utilising skin blemished bananas.

Representatives from the Australian Banana Growers Council (ABGC), Horticulture Australia Limited and a range of food processors were in attendance.  A range of product concept presentations were given by DEEDI, CSIRO, Newcastle University, Simpson Farms and Soudan Lane.

Dr Roger Stanley, Science Leader, Innovative Food Technologies, Agri-Science Queensland said “the forum was a success in getting industry issues out, raising the vision beyond commodity pulp and assisting development of  links between possible commercial players.”

The forum presented a range of opportunities and created numerous actions for organisations within the value chain to pursue.

If you would like to find out more about R&D programs please visit www.ausicom.com or call (07) 3853 5225 or e-mail info(at)ausicom.com for further information.