Home - Future Food Systems

Controlling the production environment

High tech, indoor agriculture is the most exciting innovation frontier in food production. Controlling inputs of light, water, energy and nutrition enables optimisation of quality and far greater consistency of supply.

Technology for adding value

Future investment in food technology must be focused on the most profitable and sustainable market segments. Industry needs include solutions for protecting the provenance of goods, increasing process automation and flexibility, and food science for healthy convenience meals, personalised foods and nutraceuticals

New markets and smart trade

By 2030, two thirds of the global middle class will be in the Asia Pacific region. The CRC will support industry partners in building scale in booming markets for trusted food in these markets. Services will include consumer insights, new product prototyping, provenance protection and innovation in export protocols for ecommerce.

Learn more

Speed to market and export scale

Inland ports and fresh food precincts are key to building regional export capability for high value, perishable goods. The CRC will support regional food hubs in building the scale and consistency in supply needed to establish direct air freight services. Our vision is for master planned, fresh food precincts co-located with airports, with capability to deliver goods from paddock to plate in 48 hours.

Learn more

A skilled workforce

Future Food Systems require new skills and capability across many disciplines. CRC research and industry partners bring extensive experience in developing and delivering capacity-building programs and will establish a comprehensive suite of training programs for graduates, postgraduates, planners, agrifood producers and managers, entrepreneurs, design technologists, policy advisers and technical staff.

Sustainable production

Optimising energy, water and other inputs is key to margin maximisation, and to environmental best practice on farm and through the value chain. Our team includes globally recognised expertise in commercial sustainability technology.

Regional food hubs

Regional food plans that link growers, manufacturers and service providers in stream lined supply chain for value added goods.
Master planned, export-facing agrifood industrial precincts, linked to freight hubs.
Shorter supply chains to reduce costs, improve quality
Excellence in urban design, transport planning and logistics
New, cross-sectoral business models
Identifying optimal regional crops and value adding opportunities
Future-ready skills and high value jobs
Distinctive regional brands

High tech indoor agriculture

Controlling environmental conditions to increase supply consistency
Optimising energy, water and other inputs
Novel IP to reduce reliance on imported technology
Design solutions for urban agriculture and vertical farming
New partnerships for growing specialised inputs to value added goods

Adding value

Provenance protection from farm to consumer
Optimised quality and nutritional outcomes
Smart packing, processing and food safety technology
Innovation in customized and personalized foods
New markets and frictionless trade systems

“Australia will need to be competitive in the global innovation race by scaling up more high-growth industries and companies; commercialising more high-value products and services; fostering great talent; and daring to tackle global challenges”

– Bill Ferris AC, Australia 2030: prosperity through innovation

LEARN MORE!