Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA)

The University of Queensland

Scientist pipetting into a glass bottle wearing protective gloves and glasses.

The Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) is a AU$160M initiative to foster collaboration between industry and university researchers to accelerate the development of new food and beverage (F&B) ingredients, products and skills that benefit Australia.

From ideas to investment to innovation, FaBA works with start-ups, small- to medium-enterprise, and corporate companies to develop research capabilities for the sector, to drive commercialisation and to deliver value to the F&B industry.

FaBA has multidisciplinary research teams across four research programs:

  1. Innovation Pathways
  2. Innovative Ingredients
  3. Premium Food and Beverages
  4. The FaBA Training Centre.

FaBA is hosted by The University of Queensland, in collaboration with partners QUT, the University of Southern Queensland and UniQuest.

Website
https://faba.au/
Organisation type

Funded by the Australian Government, Department of Education, Trailblazer University Program

Number of research staff
20-100 research staff
Address
Building 80, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, The University of Queensland, Carmody Road, St Lucia QLD 4067

Strengths and capabilities

  • Synthetic biology
  • Bio-manufacturing
  • Precision fermentation
  • Commercialisation of new products, processes and ventures
  • Innovative food designs
  • Non-thermal processing
  • Rheology, interface science, food engineering
  • Food sensory science
  • Food fermentation
  • Bioprocess optimisation
  • Metabolomics and proteomics
  • Sustainable consumption and production systems
  • Biological applications for innovative nutritional solutions

Facilities and major equipment

  • Bioreactors
  • Maker Space
  • UQ sensory food production kitchen and tasting facility
  • QUT Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant

Lead researchers

  • FaBA's Professor Mark Turner was awarded the 2023 Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology President’s Award for uniting food industry professionals in feeding future generations.
  • Dr Alexandria Gain was awarded the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Layton Dissertation of the Year Award 2023 through her research on overpackaging and brand wastefulness.

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

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