The New Zealand government has announced it will invest $21 million in the creation of four new food and beverage development centres.
The funding will be ploughed into four new hubs - termed a "food innovation network" - to develop new food and beverage ingredients and consumer products with the aim of boosting New Zealand's food export industry.
Economic development minister Gerry Brownlee said the plan had the potential to double the value of New Zealand's processed foods sector, which currently accounts for $2.1 billion of exports.
Each hub will have a different focus, chosen according to the expertise in nearby universities and the kind of foods produced in those regions.
In Canterbury, the Lincoln hub will focus on plant-based ingredient and consumer food products.
Manukau will focus on processed foods, and the Waikato hub will work on meat-based products and dairy ingredients.
Meanwhile, Palmerston North will build on its strengths in food research and training food technologists to strengthen connections between research and the industry.
Posted by Philippa Atkins
