UQ welcomes <i>Food for Life</i> Centre of Excellence

The University of Queensland says the creation of a Food for Life Centre of Excellence is another important step in the state's biotechnological development.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie announced at a biotechnology conference in San Diego, California that his government would create a $40 million Centre of Excellence in Food Science and Technology.

The centre would bring together work carried out on plant and livestock genomics and food sciences and will be at the forefront of the development of functional foods.

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said The University of Queensland has renowned expertise in food science research and teaching and will play an important role in the new centre, which will further develop the program begun with UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

'This centre, along with the recently announced $60 million Institute in Biomaterials and Nano Applications represents a very real commitment to the ?Smart State' agenda,' Professor Hay said.

'Successive Queensland Governments have given very significant financial backing to the University's biotechnology flagship, the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, which was established in January 2000.

'These recent initiatives are the next logical step in the development of the new economy.'

For more information contact Peter McCutcheon at UQ Communications on 07 3365 1088