Evaluation of synergies between MLA and Dairy Australia in bioactives /bioscience programs

Summary

Bioactives in the context of the meat and dairy sectors of the food industry are defined as animal or plant derived molecules and compounds which have regulatory functions in humans beyond normal and adequate nutrition. These molecules can interact with living tissue and act as active ingredients in functional foods, nutraceuticals, functional cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. 

Bioscience is defined as an area of scientific study that relates to living things, for example biology or biochemistry. Within the food industry a wide range of functions for bioactive compounds have been described, including antimicrobial properties, blood pressure-lowering effects, cholesterol-lowering ability, antithrombotic and antioxidant activities, enhancement of mineral   absorption/bioavailability, cytoor immunomodulatory effects, and opioid activities etc. 

Both Meat & Livestock Australia and Dairy Australia invest significant resources in the bioactive/bioscience sector and potential cost reductions could be realised through greater coordination and collaboration between the two organisations. This collaboration could include capability building in the academic and commercial sector, as well as the development of improved evaluation methodologies and commercialisation strategies.

Project A.BIM.0028 “Evaluation of synergies between Meat & Livestock Australia and Dairy Australia in bioactives/bioscience programs” is intended to deliver recommendations for possible opportunities for further discussion and collaboration between the Meat & Livestock Australia and Dairy Australia in the bioscience/bioactives field to drive increased value for the respective industries and stakeholders.
This project investigated the current and proposed bioactives strategies of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and Dairy Australia (DA), with the aim of identifying potential opportunities and synergies to collaborate, both at an industry and enterprise level.

The project compared the strategies and processes employed to date by each industry, and considered the lessons that could be learned from successes and failures in commercialising bioactives and makes a series of recommendations focused on industry collaboration. This study recommended collaboration in the following areas;
• Bioscience/bioactive capability and industry characteristics,
• Tools and processes to assist firms in assessing bioactive/bioscience opportunities,
• Bioactive market research and industry analysis,
• Business models for creating and sustaining value in the market, and
• Precompetitive collaborative research themes.

Finally this study also proposes that the meat and dairy industries work closer together on industry driven bioscience and bioactive projects through the development of syndicate or consortium projects and a potential future Bioscience/bioactives Centre.