A Queensland facility for companies and researchers to translate research into new types of food and fuels has had one of its biggest upgrades in 15 years after state, federal and university programs tipped in more than $10 million.
The Mackay-based QUT Pioneer BioPilot, formerly called the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant, announced the upgrades on Friday, with $18 million invested in total.
It comes as Queensland attempts to become an Asia-Pacific biomanufacturing hub and just days after the Albanese government revealed a $1 billion tilt at a domestic clean fuel industry.
For the last decade and a half, the facility has focused on translating research and converting biomass such as sugarcane biogases into biofuels, green chemicals and bioproducts.
It bridges the gap between laboratory research and pilot scale production while being connected to the industries that provide much of the feedstocks.
“The feedstocks we are developing for this process are diverse, but the sugarcane industry is the key driver for much of this work,” said QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy researcher Professor Ian O’Hara.
“This puts Queensland, which has 95 per cent of Australia’s cane industry, at the heart of this area of innovation and opportunity.
“Precision fermentation is a technology that allows us to convert sugars into a range of other food ingredients and products in brewery-style fermentation tanks. The advantages of precision fermentation are that it can lead to new food products and ingredients that supplement production through traditional methods, providing sustainability benefits and increasing consumer choice.”
The $18 million upgrade includes $5.3 million from the federal government’s Regional Partnerships Program, $3,4 million from the University Trailblazer Food & Beverage Accelerator and $2.4 million from the state government’s Industry Partnerships Program.
“This investment positions Australia as a serious player in the global bioeconomy and, importantly, it will make Mackay one of the driving forces for our future economy,” federal Labor Senator Corinne Mulholland said.
The upgraded Mackay facility arrives as the Albanese government commits $1 billion to an emerging domestic low carbon liquid fuels industry that is forecast to be manufacturing by 2029 and grow to $36 billion in 2050.
The Queensland LNP government this week unveiled its five-year manufacturing plan and has also targeted the biofuels industry as boom growth opportunity for its $180 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund.
“The upgraded MRBPP gives local researchers and industry the tools to turn biomass into high-value products – right here in Mackay,” Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland Sean Dillon said.
“It’s a powerful demonstration of how regional Queensland is open for business, strongly appealing to companies looking to use sugar feedstocks for their products.”
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