A $10 million Food Technology Facility could be in the cards for the Peel Business Park if the Labor government is re-elected.
The new industry would see the design, outfit and operation of 600sqm of manufacturing space in the Western Australia Food Innovation Precinct in Nambeelup, containing a range of advanced food manufacturing equipment.
The facility would assist primary producers, and help food and beverage businesses develop, test and produce new and improved products using advanced manufacturing technologies and processes.
This would allow businesses to confirm market demand and buyers, allowing them to invest with confidence in new large-scale commercial production lines.
Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said the facility would make the Peel region a leader in food production.
"The Food Technology centre will put the Peel on the map as a national leader in innovative food production, and will create jobs right across the Peel region," she said.
"We have some of Australia's best fresh produce in the Peel, and this investment will allow us to take that quality product to the next level - supporting local farmers, local businesses and the local economy."
"This is an important part of the Transform Peel initiative, which will create thousands of jobs for the Peel region," Mandurah MP David Templeman added.
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The project will be developed and operated by Murdoch University, allowing industry to access expertise and skilled technical staff while also linking to the research on personalised nutrition being undertaken at the Australian National Phenome Centre.
Economic modelling estimates that increasing food manufacturing output by just one to three per cent would create up to 500 additional jobs across WA.
