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Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct now under construction

Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct

The Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct (WAFIP), centre for research, development and commercialisation of new ag-tech and value-added food, is now under construction at the Peel Business Park in Nambeelup. 

The $21.7 million precinct will be an open access facility comprising research and development capabilities, a production warehouse and innovation centre. 

The WAFIP will enable commercial research and development, prototype and market testing of food and beverage products and networking for Western Australian food producers. 

“This precinct will be a game-changer for the WA food and beverage sector, creating better and more diverse products through research and development, and expanding WA’s food and beverage market share both nationally and internationally,” Regional Development minister Alannah MacTiernan said. 

The state government has committed $10M to develop the Peel Food Technology Facility in the precinct, a 600 square metre manufacturing space for producers to develop and test new value-added products. Also, $2.5M will go towards an Enterprise Support Program in partnership with the Shire of Murray to help activate the precinct. 

“The precinct will be home to the state government’s $10M Peel Food Technology Facility, which will help WA businesses to test and produce high-quality value-added food products,” MacTiernan said. 

“This is a great example of state, federal and local government working with industry and universities to drive local jobs and local industry.” 

Via the Enterprise Support Program, businesses will have access to grants for innovation technologies, research capabilities, incubation space and technologies through the Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct. 

Some of the key tenants at the WAFIP include: 

  • Murdoch University, to run the Research and Development Facility and deliver a Food Science and Nutrition Bachelor of Science degree 
  • GrowHub have signed a lease to operate the WAFIP Innovation Centre, for agribusinesses and entrepreneurs featuring co-working spaces, consulting services and industry support 
  • Spinifex Brewery, to run the WAFIP warehousing facility and establish their brewery at the precinct. 

“The WAFIP will become another major job-creator in the Peel region, supercharging value-adding opportunities that create long-term jobs for local people,” Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke said. 

“Our region produces some of the best-quality food in the world and this facility will allow our local businesses to take their products to the next level. It is fantastic to see the Peel Business Park, a key initiative delivered by the WA government, filling up and driving local jobs.” 

The Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct is supported by funding from the federal government’s Regional Growth Fund. 

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