Department of Food Technology and Nutrition
The Department of Food Technology and Nutrition at RMIT is a leader in shaping the future of food through innovative education, impactful research, and strong industry collaboration. We offer cutting-edge programs that equip students with practical skills and scientific knowledge across food science and technology, nutrition, product development, and consumer behaviour. Our staff bring expertise in areas such as food processing and innovation, safety, packaging, sensory science, microbiology and sustainability.
Our research is driven by cross-disciplinary partnerships and focuses on improving food quality, safety, nutritional outcomes, and consumer satisfaction. At RMIT, we address real-world challenges ranging from food security and health to innovation in food systems by combining technical excellence with commercial and societal insights.
The department is deeply engaged with industry and government, working together to enhance food production methods, reduce waste, and support the development of functional and sustainable food products. With a focus on global relevance and local impact, we are committed to delivering solutions that advance health, well-being, and sustainability across the food system.
Our Food Research and Innovation Centre brings together multidisciplinary research and development capabilities in all areas related to the post-farm gate food value chain to stimulate innovation and fill the gaps critical to the future success of the Australian food industry.
Pioneering sustainable food solutions through novel ingredients, intelligent formulation, green processing, waste transformation, microbiological safety, smart packaging, food engineering and AI-driven design.
Bridging sensory science, consumer behaviour, immersive tech, and Indigenous knowledge to explore how cognitive traits, emotions, and culture shape food perception, health outcomes, and purchasing decisions.
RMIT’s Food Research and Innovation Centre is a world-class, multimillion-dollar facility driving research innovation, education and collaboration across the post-farm gate food value chain. With a focus on supporting both large corporations and SMEs, the Centre helps Australian businesses develop, scale, and market high-value, innovative products for the global marketplace.
Building on RMIT’s reputation as Australia’s top provider of work-ready food technologists and our internationally recognised research, the Centre brings together multidisciplinary research and development capabilities to address critical capability gaps in the food industry. It serves as an incubation hub for emerging food and beverage enterprises while enhancing innovation, value-adding, efficiency, and competitiveness among existing manufacturers.
The Centre also delivers high-impact teaching and hands-on training in food safety, product development, sensory evaluation, nutrition, quality assurance, and workplace placements. Our specialised laboratories and facilities include a Food Pilot Plant, Product Development Laboratory, Computerised Sensory and Consumer Testing Suite, Food and Nutrition Research Laboratory, Food Analysis and Characterisation Laboratory, Microbiology Laboratory, Temperature-Controlled Rooms and a VX digital Lab for immersive consumer- based research.
In partnership with industry, we undertake fundamental, applied, and commercial research and support workforce upskilling. Our end-to-end service capabilities include:
We have a broad industry network and longstanding partnerships with leading global research organisations and major food companies, including Bega Cheese, Tatura Milk Industries, Coca-Cola, Fibrisol, Joe White Malting, Lion Dairy & Drinks, Maggie Beer, Mandurah Australia, Chobani, Prime 100, Manildra Meat Company, Mars, Mondelēz International, Murray Goulburn, Nestlé, Nuchev, Proportional Foods, Sanitarium, Simplot, Uncle Ben’s, and Unilever.
The Food Research and Innovation Centre is a key driver of food system transformation in Australia preparing future leaders, supporting enterprise, and advancing global food innovation.
Our academics and researchers harness their expertise to tackle current and emerging challenges by combining technical excellence with commercial insight.
Renowned for our industry collaborations and cross-disciplinary partnerships, we work to advance food production methods, improve nutritional outcomes, and create products that meet evolving consumer needs.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures
