The Center was approved to construction in June 2006 by the National Ministry of Education. It is affiliated to the College of Light Industry and Food Science in South China University of Technology. Currently professor Li Lin is the Director of the Center, and he is also the vice president of South China University of Technology.

Starch and vegetable protein are the bulk of agricultural products playing important roles in the national economy. Aiming at resolving the critical and common technical issues in the extensive processing of starch and plant protein, basing on technology innovation, integrating current basic conditions and facilities, the Center established advanced platforms for key techniques and equipment engineering technology. Its main task is to develop new techniques and methods of starch and vegetable protein green processing. By building the good platforms for R&D and system integration, by cultivating and gathering high-level innovation talents, the Center is dedicated to serve the State's economic construction and development directly.

At present, the Center has established complete conditions and facilities for research and environment for engineering verification. We have experimental base with total space of 3000 M2, and instruments and equipment valued at more than 50 million RMB. We have constructed three pilot production lines for 300kg modified protein, 400kg starch-based biodegradable materials and 200kg of functional oligosaccharides daily respectively. We have also set up three production trials bases in the leading enterprises.

Relying on "Light Industrial Technology and Engineering", the first level national key discipline and "Food Science", the second level national key discipline, the Center has set up a research and development team of 46 members for R&D, application and evaluation of engineering. Members include nineteen professors, fourteen associate professors, ten lecturers (or engineers), and three post-doctoral researchers.