Simplot Australia won a government grant of more than A$917,000 toward a project to create new processing technologies for the development of improved and healthier potato products.
Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss announced the Food Innovation Grant (FIG) of A$917,786 toward the A$1.916 million cost of the project.
Also among the grants of A$4.2 million under the scheme - part of the Australian government's A$102.4 million National Food Industry Strategy -was one of A$842,375 toward a A$1.685-million project by Sydney-based Penford Australia for the development of starches for sustainable and biodegradable food packaging.
"FIG grants help large and small food businesses take research and development to the next step of commercialization by sharing the risk associated with innovation," Truss said.
"All of the projects announced today will provide significant growth opportunities for the Australian food industry through increased export potential and reduced costs."