Built in 2021-22 at a cost of $5m, the Food Innovation Laboratory is a cutting-edge facility for food-related teaching and research – enabling ‘paddock to plate’ activities at the Waite Campus.
The Laboratory, located in the Charles Hawker Building off Waite Road, features several spaces:
- 90 seat tutorial room (can be split 60/30) for sensory and theory sessions
- 18 seat meeting/discussion room
- 50 person teaching kitchen (2 per bench)
- 8 sensory booths (with coloured lights and separate controls for perception studies)
The industrial/commercial style teaching kitchen is fitted with a range of equipment, including a dehydrator, snap freezer, standard freezers, deep fryers, air fryers, warmers, ovens (combi, fan-forced and microwave), a vacuum sealer and benchtop autoclave (canning). This will provide students with hands-on experience in food processing methods – bolstering industry relevant knowledge and skills.
All Food Science & Nutrition subjects (formerly taught at TAFE Regency Park) will now be based at Waite. These have an average class size of 40-50 students and include:
- Nutrition
- Product Development
- Sensory Evaluation
- Food Packaging and Quality Regulation
- Food Chemistry
- Public Health Nutrition
The space may also be utilised by external industry partners (e.g. for upskilling workers, pilot product development or research work) as well as for internal industry placements (e.g. for projects such as recipe development/modification in aged care and school canteens).
Industrial/commercial style teaching kitchen
Teaching benches
Sensory booths with modified light colour
For more information, please contact the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine: afw@adelaide.edu.au