Queensland Government supports Naturally Nutritious project

Researchers in Queensland will be investigating on new methods for producing next generation of superfoods such as nutrient-rich fruit, vegetables and nuts, to strengthen State’s agricultural sector.

The Queensland Government will be offering A$10m ($7.4m) in funding for the Naturally Nutritious project.

It is reported to be one of the largest projects funded by Horticultural Innovation Australia this year.

The announcement was made by the Queensland Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development Bill Byrne.

Byrne said: “It will build on the successes of the Queensland-bred SuperGold sweet-corn and the Queen Garnet ‘superplum’ with its blood-pressure lowering properties that has created interest world-wide.

“Our researchers will identify the phytonutrient content, those natural chemicals found in plans, of a range of fruits, nuts and vegetables.

“They will also test in human clinical trials the health benefits of the Queen Garnet plum and also Queensland-grown strawberries that are rich in folate.”

The project will be led by Tim O’Hare, from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, a research institute of the University of Queensland jointly supported by the Queensland Government.

O’Hare said: “Previous products that had elevated health properties were difficult for consumers to differentiate at a glance in the supermarket, and their health benefits were long term and difficult to measure.

“The consumer had to have faith in something they could not see, and trust in the product’s long-term benefits.”

O’Hare further explained that the key aspect of the Naturally Nutritious’ programme is to identify new naturally healthy food products.

Other projects will focus on other products, such as new low-saturated fat macadamias for improved cardiovascular health, high-zeaxanthincapsicum to improve eyesight, and plums to improve blood-pressure and cholesterol levels.