Bringing FaBA closer to food manufacturers

Drawing on his background in food science and manufacturing operations, Adam helps companies shape their ideas, build the business case and find the right path forward.

What does your role at FaBA entail?

My role is quite broad which is one of the things I enjoy about it. I talk with food and beverage manufacturers about their innovation challenges and help define the company’s problem or opportunity, and then look across the FaBA network to identify the expertise that could help address it.

A large part of my role is acting as an intermediary – companies and researchers can sometimes approach a project from difference perspectives. Researchers naturally focus on the technical questions, while companies need to consider commercial priorities, costs and pathways to market. I help translate between those perspectives and keep the project focused on an outcome that will deliver value for the company.

What are some of the more interesting challenges companies have brought to you?

We see a huge variety of challenges, but one area generating a lot of interest is the use of waste or low-value streams.

A manufacturer might have wastewater, a byproduct or another stream that is not being fully utilised and may be looking for a commercially viable opportunity. These are technically very interesting projects, and can attract interest from researchers, government organisations and manufacturers looking for new ingredients, products or development opportunities. That combination of a genuine industry need, a potentially valuable resource and the opportunity to investigate new solutions tends to generate a lot of enthusiasm.

How does FaBA turn a company’s challenge into a potential project?

The first step is very simple: speak to us. The  Business Development and Commercialisation Team works with the company to understand the challenge and build the business case for a potential project that helps a food and beverage manufacturer become more profitable, productive or competitive.

We can identify researchers with the right expertise and bring together the technical scope, project milestones, indicative budget and timeline, and assess whether the proposed work is feasible.

FaBA’s project scoping and administrative processes can largely happen in parallel, so companies are supported as the opportunity develops rather than being expected to navigate everything themselves.

You are based in Melbourne. What does that mean for companies?

FaBA is a national initiative, so having someone based in Melbourne gives us an important connection to manufacturers in Victoria and surrounding regions.

Victoria has a substantial food manufacturing presence and being based here means I can visit companies, view their existing processes and equipment, and understand what they are trying to achieve.

That is valuable because companies do not always come to us with a fully formed project. They might have a challenge, an early idea or an opportunity they want to investigate but need help to define it.

I previously worked as a food technologist, so being on the factory floor and talking directly with manufacturers is something I genuinely enjoy.

Tell me more about your background.

My career began when I worked as a chef before and during university, where I studied Food Science to combine my love of science, food and cooking.

I then joined Kerry Group and worked at its global innovation centre in Naas, working in the savoury cereal research and development team before moving into alcoholic beverage research, development and applications. I later moved into pharmaceutical operations with Abbott Diagnostics in Ireland before relocating to Australia with my partner in early 2023 and joining FaBA.

Together, those experiences have given me an appreciation of research and development, manufacturing operations and the commercial realities companies face when they are trying to innovate.

What would you say to a company that is unsure whether FaBA is right for them?

Just reach out and have a conversation with us. You do not need to have a perfectly defined project. Our Business Development and Commercialisation Team will talk through the challenge, share what we know and help point you in the right direction.

Even if the opportunity is not ultimately a fit for FaBA, quick conversation is often the simplest and most productive place to start.