Presenting key research
strengths for food, beverage
and related industries
Image courtesy of Dane Consulting
With research strengths in health and medicine,
nutrition and dietetics, mathematics, and plant
biology, the University of Newcastle (UON) is the
most research-intensive university in regional
Australia. Our success is founded on a commitment
to leadership that meets the world stage with
excellence and returns global knowledge and
expertise back to the region.
The University of Newcastle continues to achieve strong
growth in research outcomes with world-class rankings across
multiple disciplines. Newcastle is ranked in the Australian top
10 for research funding and outcomes and ranked in the top
three per cent (251-300) of world universities in the esteemed
Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) for
2015-16.
In addition, UON is ranked 26 in the QS World Rankings ‘Top
50 under 50’ (for universities established after 1962) as well
being ranked number one in Australia in the 2014 Times
Higher Education (THE) rankings of the world’s top 100
universities under 50 years old.
The University’s research capabilities in relation to the
Food and Beverage sector are of the highest standard with
Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015 ratings of 5
(denoting ‘well above world class’) for Nutrition and Dietetics,
Plant Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Immunology and
Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience.
The Joint UON and Central Coast Food Innovation Cluster
brings together researchers from across multiple disciplines
within the University of Newcastle as well as experts from
within the Central Coast Food and Beverage sector and
government members.
Through the development of a framework for collaboration,
the Cluster aims to create an environment where new
opportunities for innovative solutions and research
breakthroughs can be generated and translated into practise
for the benefit of the Food and Beverage sector.
Our research collaborations with the Food and Beverage
industry and related partners have achieved successful results
in numerous areas. Below are just some of these:
• Substantiation of health claims for foods enriched with
Omega-3 and other bioactive nutrients
• Evidence for health benefits of pork consumption
• History of the Hunter Valley Wine Industry
• Food Processing and Post-Harvest Technology.
For more info visit: newcastle.edu.au/research-and-innovation/food
Offering world-class innovation
and global leadership in research
Key Research Centres and Groups contributing to
our research capability in Food and Beverage related
areas include:
markets, cluster development, including the methodology
behind clustering, and network clusters of innovation between
Australia, China and other export markets.
Australia-China Research Centre for Crop
Improvement brings together research teams of international
excellence in plant biology and breeding. The group
focusses on discovering key genes and biological processes
controlling plant development and stress tolerance for
innovative application to improve food security and agricultural
sustainability.
Centre for Complex Dynamic Systems and Control
(CDSC) specialises in analysis, design, optimisation and
control of dynamic systems. The CDSC also has expertise
in a range of other process control and optimisation projects
including ford extruder control, and separator optimisation.
Plant Science Research Group is recognised nationally
and internationally for its contributions to understanding
regulation of nutrient transport and metabolism in higher
plants. Linkages with agronomists and plant geneticists opens
up exciting opportunities of transferring findings into targeted
breeding programs.
Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC) is a novel
multi-institutional research collaboration that integrates
internationally recognised expertise in nutrition and human
health into new research partnerships aimed at expanding
knowledge of physiological functions of bioactive nutrients and
functional foods; evaluating human health benefits of bioactive
nutrients; obtaining evidence to substantiate health claims
for functional foods and nutraceuticals; fostering a national
framework of collaboration in nutraceutical research; and
promoting translation of nutraceutical research into practice.
Nutrition, Food and Health Research Group
encompasses both novel and traditional areas of food,
nutrition and biologically active natural products. The group
is composed of researchers who have a range of interests
including Molecular Nutrition/Nutritional Genetics, Cancer
Biology, Functional Foods/Food Chemistry, Food Processing,
Postharvest Technology and Herbal Therapies/Xenobiotics.
CRICOS Provider 00109J
ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for
Food and Beverage Supply Chain Optimisation will
train the next generation of multi-disciplinary researchers
capable of designing and managing safe, sustainable and costeffective food supply chains vital for growing Australia’s food
industry and increasing Australia’s food exports.
Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and
Nutrition (PRC PAN) offers unique interdisciplinary
expertise and leadership by galvanising education and public
health researchers, biochemists, exercise physiologists, food
scientists, Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs), nutritionists
and behavioural scientists to combat the obesity epidemic and
related chronic disease burden to improve the quality of life for
Australians.
Innov8Central Food is a joint university and industry
initiative with a research focus on the exploration of export
For more information visit
Humanities Research Institute aims to foster humanities
research at UON and encourage high quality adventurous
work in the humanities. Particular areas of relevance to the
Food and Beverage industry is the wine studies research area
which presently includes researchers from History, Social
Science, Business and Tourism.
NSW DPI Central Coast Primary Industries Centre
which is the NSW DPI’s Centre of Excellence for Market
Access and Greenhouse Horticulture is located on the
University’s Ourimbah campus. The CCPIC develops and
implements science based technologies for horticultural crops
in NSW and Australia.
Analytical and Biomolecular Research Facility (ABRF)
is a research support unit of UON’s Research Division. The
facility has a variety of advanced scientific instruments that
are routinely used for analytical purposes in the Food and
Beverage industry. Instruments include liquid chromatographs
and mass spectrometers of various types that can perform
a diverse array of chemical and biochemical analyses, both
qualitative and quantitative.
Engage and collaborate
The team at Newcastle Innovation will assist you in
establishing new partnerships at the University of Newcastle.
The team can arrange introductions with our researchers,
facilitate access to our world-class research facilities and
provide advice on how to leverage potential government
funding.
For more information, please contact the team
E: [email protected]
T: +61 2 4921 8777
newcastle.edu.au/research-and-innovation/food