Representatives from the CSIRO on Thursday fronted the Senate Estimates Committee to answer questions about the organisation's commercial partnerships.
It comes as the government agency faces heat after launching the new 'Flexi' diet, which was developed as a co-venture with weight-loss company Impromy.
Launched on Monday, the program claims fasting "can be an effective way" to shed weight and "stay healthy".
CSIRO research found that participants in the 16-week trial of the diet lost an average of 11kg and saw improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol glucose and insulin levels.
The link to the commercial venture drew the attention of Senator Nick Xenephon who told the Adelaide Advertiser on Tuesday the organisation needed to “fearlessly safeguard its independence” and this latest episode “highlights the need for more CSIRO funding”.
CEO Dr Larry Marshall responded on Thursday by telling the Senate Estimates Committee any profits would be reinvested back into the industry.
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"On the notion of profit, any money we generate from any of our external work, CSIRO doesn’t make a profit in a sense that the company makes a profit, but that it does give the organisation the ability to reinvest in the area of science," he said.
“I’m trying quit actively to shift the mindset of many of the companies we work with to stop thinking of us as a vendor, and more as a unique partner – so that rather than paying us money, they are investing in their own future, because any profit we make we reinvest into that area of science that ultimately benefits them and the nation.”
Research Dietitian at the CSIRO, Dr Jane Bowen, told the Adelaide Advertiser that despite the diet program being co-funded by the government organisation and product royalties, “we are a research organisation, and we have a relationship with industry”.
“We designed the diet and conducted the study, and they put it into practice,” she said.
“The research is by CSIRO and that is something the community can trust.”
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