Grain and food quality analysis is crucial in maintaining the excellent reputation of Australian grain and grain food products in Australia and in export markets.

The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) Sydney, formerly the Bread Research Institute of Australia, has long supported the Australian grains industry with highly regarded analytical services that help underpin consumer confidence in grain food products.

Playing a hidden but vital role is the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) – the authority that gives AEGIC Sydney its official laboratory accreditation.

AEGIC received its first NATA accreditation 70 years ago, in August 1952. Since then, the laboratories have maintained NATA accreditation, giving Australian grain and food industries the highest confidence in AEGIC’s analytical services.

Continuous improvement

NATA accreditation is notoriously challenging. A NATA-certified laboratory needs to be continuously improving to not only meet but also exceed international standards. Maintaining this accreditation over seven decades is no small feat.

NATA recently featured AEGIC in its video ‘Why great grain matters’. The video demonstrates how AEGIC Sydney supports growers, processors and exporters of Australian grains by instilling confidence in the measurements used for trade and product development.

The domestic grain food industry also relies on AEGIC Sydney’s services, in particular dietary fibre analysis and nutrition information panel testing. Most processed food in Australia displays this panel, allowing consumers to make informed food decisions, so confidence in this nutritional information is crucial.

Accredited data from AEGIC’s laboratory is used in the nutrition panels on a wide range of grain food products and supports food manufacturers and retailers.

AEGIC Sydney’s facilities include analytical laboratories, a pilot mill, pilot bakery and research laboratories.

More information: Dr Hayfa Salman, 02 8025 3200, hayfa.salman@aegic.org.au