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Deakin Centre for Advanced Food Sciences
Making healthy, sustainable food the preferred choice of consumers
How our research drives healthier food choices
The Deakin Centre for Advanced Food Sciences collaborates with the Australian food industry on consumer, sensory, safety and flavour research. Using state-of-the-art facilities, our researchers deliver high-quality industry relevant research, offer industry focused consulting services, as well as training the next generation of food scientists.
Our research capabilities
Our centre boasts a wide range of expertise, technical skills and resources that cover the span of the food industry.
Product development
We study the use of natural and sustainable ingredients in reformulation of existing products to reduce energy density of foods. We have expertise in designing dairy, cereals, legumes, fruit and vegetable-based products.
Food safety
We have expertise in the microbial safety of food products and overall processing hygiene. Some of our current research also focuses on the use of plant-based antimicrobials to extend the overall shelf-life of foods.
Flavour analysis
We use our expertise in gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and olfactometry detection to dissect flavour from complex food samples. Instrumental analysis of flavour compounds in food and beverages can assist in identifying off flavours and aroma compounds that can be linked to consumer liking.
Consumer research
Finding the optimal balance requires solid innovative consumer research. By combining detailed sensory analyses with consumer acceptance testing, we discover which flavour compounds and ingredients are steering consumer acceptance.
Sensory evaluation
Robust sensory methodology considers if products are perceptually or sensorily different, how well-liked products are or which products people prefer.
Get an introduction to food science research
The The Deakin Centre for Advanced Food Sciences Academy is a training hub for talented students interested in food and nutrition science research.
This 12-week program provides hands-on research skills training with academic experts and industry professionals in the area of food and nutrition sciences.
Our research team
We have a number of widely published, highly esteemed researchers and PhD candidates working hard to deliver advanced knowledge and industry-relevant sensory and consumer science.
Professor Russell Keast leads the centre. His research focuses on understanding the taste system and how knowledge of taste may be associated with dietary consumption and development of diet-related disease.
Our facilities
Our world-class laboratories facilitate an innovative approach to research, teaching and learning. Our facilities include:
- sensory lab
- flavour lab
- food product delivery lab
- food microbiology lab
- consumer insights room.
Featured projects
Our research focuses broadly on foods and the consumer and how understanding both can improve the sustainability and health of the food supply and population.
Enhancing healthy aging through plant-based nutrition
Plants4Age is a collaborative research initiative led by the Deakin Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition and the Deakin Centre for Advanced Food Sciences, supported by Hort Innovation. The project aims to build robust scientific evidence on the benefits of plant-based diets for muscle health in older adults and explore the sensory factors that influence their adoption.
Understand key sensory attributes of strawberries
Increasing consumer preference of Australian breed strawberries will increase consumption and profits for growers. Given the diversity in fruit flavour according to cultivar, maturation level and climate, it is important to devise a descriptive language to distinguish between different cultivars at various stages of ripening.
Analysing aroma-active compounds in coffee-flavoured dairy beverages
The objective of this study was to identify the aroma-active compounds present in coffee-flavoured dairy beverages. Understanding the key aroma compounds responsible for the coffee flavour in these beverages is essential for product development in this rapidly-growing industry.
Our partnerships
We welcome industry partners and the opportunity to work on commercially orientated short- or long-term projects with you.
As an industry partner, your organisation will have access to one of Australia’s leading centres in sensory, consumer, safety and flavour science. We have state-of-the-art facilities and a team of highly skilled experts with over 50 years of combined experience across a variety of research areas.
