The government says it will re-hash existing budgets to provide up to $21 million over five years to set up four centres for food and beverage development at Manukau, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Lincoln near Christchurch.

The hubs – called a "food innovation network" by Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee – were first proposed under the previous Labour government in 2004.

A consortium of food research and development organisations plans to establish an international brand to market New Zealand expertise to the world.

The project, called Food Innovation New Zealand (FINZ), has been signed by Massey University, AgResearch, Fonterra, Plant & Food Research (formerly HortResearch and Crop and Food Research), the Riddet Institute and the BioCommerce Centre, all of them with operations in Palmerston North.

The brand will be formally launched in July.