WRI Seminar Series: Sarah Ewers and Guisella Yarasca – Food technology at SARDI: capabilities and recent projects

Presenters: Sarah Ewers and Guisella Yarasca, SARDI Food Technology Program

Date: Thursday 14 Aug 2025, 10 am, SARDI Plant Research Centre Auditorium

Title: Food technology at SARDI: capabilities and recent projects

Abstract: SARDI Food Tech Program, a division within PIRSA, provides technical support and expert assistance to food businesses aiming to enhance product quality and add value to Australian primary produce. Our work helps drive SA’s competitiveness in the food industry by facilitating innovation and addressing technical issues. Our team of scientists focus on the following topics of food technology, new product development, sensory studies, food processing and shelf-life assessment. In this session we will showcase our capabilities and highlight two recent projects;  fermented oats, and the fancy ‘baked beans’ project.

Sarah Ewers is a Food Technologist at SARDI, with over 10 years’ experience working in quality assurance, new product development and manufacturing facilities. She completed her Bachelor of Food Science at Otago University in NZ and has worked in colourings and flavourings, dairy, chocolate industries, and has dealt with many more with SARDI. She began working at SARDI around 6 years ago and is currently working on a ‘fancy’ baked beans project.

Guisella Yarasca is a Food Technologist at SARDI, where she works on product development, shelf-life studies, and provides technical support to the food industry to enhance manufacturing practices. Before joining SARDI, Guisella worked in quality assurance in the ready meals sector, gaining valuable experience in food safety and regulatory compliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology from the Agrarian La Molina University in Peru. As part of her research, she has developed a spoonable oat-based snack, reflecting her interest in nutritious and clean-label food solutions.