PIP COURTNEY, REPORTER: Sonya Maley has been on an amazing ride since deciding 10 years ago that there had to be a better way to make a living than picking water chestnuts while pregnant.

SONYA MALEY, RESIS AUSTRALIA: I thought, gee, my back hurts. And I really don’t want to be here. And, yeah, I can see better things for myself than picking Chinese water chestnuts out of the mud seven months pregnant.

PIP COURTNEY: At the time, she was living on a small block bordering a world heritage rainforest near Tully in far North Queensland.

Watch the full story on ABC Landline.

Resis Australia Founder Sonya Maley worked with DEEDI’s Innovative Food Technologies and Food Pilot Plant teams to develop unique cane separation technology, and achieve their vision of a natural alternative to refined sugar for food and beverage manufacturers.

As a small business success story, Resis Australia recently established a one-of-a-kind pilot plant in the Sunshine Coast with support from the federal government’s Commercialisation Australia program. The 100% Australian owned company sources sugar cane from local farmers to create their natural cold pressed cane juice, and is working with international food manufacturers to test their product.

DEEDI’s Innovative Food Technologies team works with Queensland SMEs to conduct scientific research and consumer trials at the new, state-of-the-art Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains.

It has been five years of research and development in the making – and now it’s time to celebrate.

Sunshine Coast company Resis Australia Pty Ltd will celebrate successful completion of its pilot plant facilities in Nambour and launch its innovative new sugar cane juice product to Australian consumers.

Resis managing director Sonya Maley said the product has been made possible through its unique cane separation technology which the company purchased from the US and further adapted. The end result is a  clean, minimally processed cane juice in a stable form that has flexible applications for a new sweetener in the food and beverage industry.

She said the pilot plant funded with assistance from Federal Government’s Commercialisation Australia program had given Resis a better understanding of the production process required for scale up  and the products “flexibility as an alternative to using refined sugar as a sweetening ingredient for food and beverage manufacturers”.

Sunshine Coast Council has been assisting Resis to help plan for a full commercial plant in the region, Economic Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio councillor, Lew Brennan, said.

“Council supports the growth of Resis and will continue through key projects like the Canelands Master Plan and our new Local Business Support Program,” he said.

“I congratulate Sonya and Resis for providing one of a suite of solutions to the future use of cane lands and am confident of its ongoing success.”

Ms Maley said the juice was currently being tested by a larger international food manufacturer.

“This pilot plant is providing invaluable information for future investment in a full-scale manufacturing facility on the Sunshine Coast based on sustainable and viable markets,” she said.

“A commercial plant when established will bring new opportunities to cane growers through new markets; also to local communities through skills development.”

Cr Brennan said the Resis investment fitted perfectly with council’s vision of the hinterland’s economic future as the premier food production region in the nation.

Media enquiries:
Resis Australia managing director, Sonya Maley, 0408 460724
Economic Development and Entrepreneurship portfolio councillor, Lew Brennan, 5449 5244
Marketing and communications, Alan Lander, 0418 227 219