National Research Flagships
The National Research Flagships are partnerships of leading Australian scientists, research institutions, commercial companies and selected international partners. Specifically designed to integrate, focus and direct our national scientific resources, the National Research Flagships are primarily about building partnerships - and delivering results.
The National Research Flagship programme is one of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia. There are currently six Flagships within the programme. Each is focussed on a challenge of the utmost importance to Australia. CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences provides scientific excellence to two of these Flagships - Food Futures and Preventative Health.
Food Futures
The Food Futures goal is to transform the international competitiveness and add $3 billion annually to the Australian agri-food sector by the application of frontier technologies to high-potential industries.
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences contributes to this Flagship by investigating:
- Processing novel cereals
- Regiospecific effects on uptake of omega-3 fatty acids
- Incorporation of omega-3 fatty acids in food
- Prawn growth genetics
- Characterisation of target bioactives
- Novel chemistries to isolate target bioactives
- Incorporation of bioactives in complex foods
Preventative Health
Preventative Health aims to improve the health and well-being of Australians and save $2 billion in annual direct health costs by 2020 through the prevention and early detection of chronic diseases.
CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences contributes to this Flagship by investigating:
- New ingredients, functional foods and nutraceuticals
- Novel bioactives that may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease