Newsbytes

Curated content from our partners and around the world on research, innovations and trends in the food-tech industry
$6m in DPIRD funding for WA agrifood firms to support value-adding

WA’s government is supporting farmers and F&B processors with individual grants of between $15,000 and $1m to fund value-adding activities.

Better-adapted banana variety discovered in Oman

Omani experts have discovered and cultivated a new banana variety with beneficial traits: it’s hardy, wind-resilient and harvest-ready sooner.

GS1’s next-gen QR codes: delivering end-to-end product information

From sustainability credentials and nutritional composition to traceability and inventory control, GS1-powered QR codes offer a wealth of real-time data on F&B products.

Making a difference with chemical engineering research: Personal career journeys

IChemE’s latest compilation of researcher interviews reveals the aspirations, experiences and philosophies that underpin progress in the chemical engineering field.

Is cell-cultured meat really less eco-friendly than conventionally farmed beef?

Should we believe a recent UC Davis study that concluded lab-cultured meat has greater ‘global warming potential’ than retail beef’? Dr James Ryall, CSO of Aussie alt-meat firm Vow, isn’t so sure – and argues there’s room for both types of meat in a protein-hungry world.

$130m trade alliance set to accelerate Australia’s horticulture exports

The Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance program, to be led by Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and delivered by Hort Innovation, will ‘protect and grow’ Australia’s horticultural exports.

Could Aussie bees’ potent propolis fuel a profitable homegrown health industry?

Sunshine Coast scientists have identified high-grade nutrient-rich propolis in beehives nationwide that could fuel a lucrative homegrown health-food industry.

Treating cow poo with tropical algae cuts methane emissions, find Swedish scientists

The scientists found adding ‘red sea plume’ algae to dairy cows’ faeces dramatically reduced methane emissions from the manure.

A new roadmap for reshaping our food systems

A new roadmap from Australia’s national science organisation, CSIRO, outlines ways to make our food systems more sustainable, productive and resilient.

Chicken feed made of food waste could slash costs and emissions

New research from FFS partner institution UNE research shows that upcycling food waste into commercial chicken feed would save Australia’s poultry industry around $500m per annum and cut our total greenhouse gas emissions by at least five per cent.

DPIRD-ANPC-FFS research supports new WA wine region guide

The Western Australian Government’s new guide to the state’s viticultural regions includes wine composition and provenance data from FFS-backed research conducted by scientists at Murdoch University’s world-leading ANPC.

Here’s how to make supermarket supply chains more resilient

Recent research has found that shorter supply chains and localised food hubs are vital to food security in Australia’s regions.

Australian scientists show encapsulation efficacy of new heteroprotein blend

A team of scientists at UNSW and ANSTO has shown that a blend of enzymatically cross-linked pea and whey protein plus maltodextrin can safely encapsulate lipidophilic bioactive compounds.

Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield and Nutri-V CEO Rachel Said with samples of the new vegie-based gelato at Hort Connections 2023. Credit: Hort Innovation
Delicious, meet nutritious: upcycled-vegie gelato

FFS partner Hort Innovation and grower-led upcycling venture Nutri-V teamed up to create healthy gelato using surplus cauliflower and pumpkin, thereby helping to combat on-farm food loss.

Queensland growers turn to FNQ food cluster for value-adding advice

Queensland’s leading horticulture-industry body is teaming with FNQ Food Incubator and DAFF to help growers build farm resilience via value-adding and innovation

National freight review can’t come too soon, says NSW Farmers

The Australian Government’s fast-tracked review of supply chains and freight should include re-thinking road and rail transport, says FFS partner NSW Farmers.

Tech-enabled supply chains boost food safety, security and sustainability

Tech-enabled solutions that streamline supply chains and curb food loss en route from farm to fork boost sustainability and food securiity, says Morris Guest, Australian operations lead for global logistics firm Lineage.

Race to make tropical crops resilient to climate change

Our tropical fruits are vulnerable to climate change. Two Murdoch University researchers ask, ‘Can we make them resilient in time?’

Food systems: The next frontier in climate action

Research indicates that a net-zero-emissions food system depends on reducing food loss and waste and adopting plant-heavy diets.

Costa Group’s African Blue berry operations benefit from FNQ Variety Improvement Program

Leading Australian grower and FFS partner Costa Group will introduce blueberry varieties trialled in Far North Queensland to boost counter-seasonal berry production in Zimbabwe, which has a similar climate and latitude.

Costa Group on track to meet sustainability goals

FFS industry partner and leading grower-distributor Costa Group has released its Sustainability Report 2022, showing progress regarding water efficiency, GG emissions, energy use and production, waste, packaging and more.

FIAL report shows alignment between agrifood sector value-adds and UN’s SDGs

A just-released report from the Commonwealth’s Food & Agribusiness Growth Centre shows how following its roadmap for growing Australia’s agrifood sector to $200B p.a. could also help us meet the UN’s SDGs.

AMGC report shows ROIs of 9:1 on co-funded manufacturing projects

The Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre’s 2022 Project Report, which showcases the industry impact and economic contribution of the 31 AMGC-backed projects completed to date, indicates a healthy ROI of around 9:1.

Cellular agriculture and its role in diversifying Australia’s food system 

A recent white paper from Cellular Agriculture Australia looks at challenges and opportunities in the cell-cultured and biofermented proteins space, recommending action in three areas to help this burgeoning sector reach its full potential.

Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge 2022: to grow lettuce using only AI

This year, five top-ranked international teams compete to grow lettuces entirely without human intervention in Wageningen University’s high-tech experimental greenhouse.

Coles to stock sustainably sourced ‘plant-based’ water

An Australian beverage brand has launched its purified, nutrient-rich water, ‘harvested’ from fruit and veg processing, in Coles supermarkets nationwide.

Food firms win big in APCO Packaging Awards

Kellogg’s, Coles, Nestlé, BioPak and Amcor were among the 22 winners of this year’s Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s awards.

Is the future of farming indoors?

This short film depicts the work of protected cropping experts at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment supporting India’s efforts to develop sustainable future food production solutions.

Homegrown spice industry on the rise

Northern Australia is ideal for producing high-value, in-demand spice crops such as kalonji, fennel and black sesame, a CQU study has found.

Web portal to help food-manufacturing firms set up shop in country Victoria

Rural Councils Victoria has a new website detailing key information about industrial landholdings, land and buildings across rural Victoria that offer potentially profitable opportunities for food manufacturing firms keen to invest or expand.

Transforming Food Systems: Effective policies to build a sustainable future

Food-systems experts from London, Delhi and Sydney discuss strategic policies and practices to boost food equity and resilience in this webinar hosted by The George Institute for World Food Day 2021.

How shipping food minus the water can help save money and the planet

The latest freeze-drying techniques mean food manufacturers can eliminate the cost and carbon footprint of transporting food by eliminating water content, while retaining flavour and nutrients.

UN Food Systems Summit sessions: watch on demand

The first UN Food Systems Summit on 23 September, livestreamed across the world, engaged more than 51,000 people from 193 countries and led to nearly 300 pledges to act. Watch all the sessions on demand.

NSW grower saves surplus strawberries by making (a lot) more jam

A Mid North Coast pick-your-own fruit farm hit by a lockdown-linked lack of visitors has saved truckloads of strawberries by paying a local contract manufacturer to turn them into 25,000 jars of jam.

International Freight Assistance Mechanism subsidy to continue until mid-2022

The federal government has extended the International Freight Assistance Mechanism until June 2022, helping Australia’s fresh-food exporters deliver goods into markets globally.

ALDI tops Canstar Blue consumer rankings for ninth time in 11 years

ALDI was the highest-ranked Australian supermarket chain in Canstar Blue’s latest Supermarket Satisfaction ratings, receiving five stars in more categories than any of its three competitors, including for price, quality and overall customer satisfaction.

Is cell-cultured meat vegan? And other food-labelling conundrums

Product terminology confusion is on the rise as plant-based milks, animal-free eggs and cell-cultured meats of various descriptions proliferate in markets worldwide.

Australia’s v2 ‘alt-meat’ product range cracks world’s largest market

Australian plant-based meat product company v2food, a joint venture between CSIRO, Main Sequence Ventures and Hungry Jack’s franchisee Jack Cowin, has expanded its export reach into China. The company is now valued at more than half a billion dollars.

Applying NASA speculation and Nobel Prize-winning science to future food-supply challenges

Innovative ag-tech start-up Air Protein is applying century-old tech and astronauts’ ideas to the challenge of making more (food) from less. In this case, a whole lot less.

Supermarket giant backs Sydney SME Harvest B

Woolworths’ venture capital arm w23 is one of the backers in a bumper $4m funding round for Sydney-based premium proteins start-up Harvest B.

Melbourne-based company Made Group secures juicy Japanese export deal

Aided by Austrade, Dandenong, Victoria-based manufacturer Made Group has cracked the sophisticated and competitive Japanese beverage markets with its range of cold-pressed juices.

Niche citrus variety reaps premium prices for Griffith growers

Blood orange, a versatile, showy citrus variety beloved by chefs, attracts a price premium – and has potential as a nutraceutical, says Vito Mancini, director of Australia’s largest grower of the fruit, RedBelly Citrus, who reveals the company’s strategy for minimising waste and maximising returns.

Overcoming obstacles in Australia’s food and beverage supply chains

Australia’s food and beverage supply chains are being held back by ageing technology, underinvestment in digital and a lack of data-driven insight, says Accenture’s Jordan Griffiths, who offers some recommendations to manufacturers.

Australian supplement companies expand markets

Despite reductions in export revenue, Australia’s supplements sector expanded during the pandemic, with firms pivoting to immunity products and finding new export markets.

Securing a profitable future via high-value CEA crops

Growers investing in high-value crops such as saffron and vanilla, and in varieties bred for sustainability, are fuelling diversity in indoor cropping, found a panel of experts at the recent Indoor AgTech NYC Innovation Summit.

Wageningen University launches third, 100 per cent Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge – with lettuce

In Wageningen’s third Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge, international teams swill compete to grow the most profitable indoor lettuce crop from seed, entirely without human intervention.

How green is HelloFresh’s vast new distribution-production complex?

Next month, the world’s largest meal-kit company is opening a new 25,500sqm manufacturing and distribution complex near Melbourne. Reportedly the largest such facility in Australia, the new ‘Tuckerbox’ will exemplify sustainability.

Cattle at SA’s new $90m sustainable processing plant will eat seaweed

A seaweed-laced feed that curbs cows’ methane emissions by up to 99% is just one of the ‘green’ innovations at Pirie Meats’ new processing facility. 

COVID-19 adds fuel to four big beverage trends in APAC region

Four big trends are fuelling beverage innovation across the APAC region, and they’ve only been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Queensland organic banana-growers team with QDAT to reduce waste in exported fruit

Organic banana-grower cooperative Pacific Coast Produce has teamed with Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to find ways to reduce in-transit waste and deliver fruit of reliable quality.

Singapore offers first undergrad course on advanced alt-meats

Increasingly, universities are picking up on the need for skills acquisiton in the alt-proteins space. From August, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University will offer a two-year course exploring sustainable alternatives to conventional meat and key technologies in this emerging field.

Survey finds more than a third of US consumers keen to cut back on meat

A May 2021 survey commissioned by Bloomberg News revealed that more than a third – 35 per cent – of Americans are now “making a conscious effort to eat less meat”, citing health concerns as the motivator.

Fewer food miles for fresh-vegetable supplies to China’s cities

China is boosting its resilience to supply-chain shocks by building high-tech vegetable-growing facilities close to cities across the nation.

Pre-sales healthy for Australia’s first plant-based, certified-organic infant and toddler formulae

Online pre-sales of Australia’s first plant-based, certified-organic infant and toddler formulae are strong, at home and worldwide. The bad news? The formulae’s base ingredient, certified-organic rice, must be imported from the Middle East as it’s not available in Australia.

Woolworths to launch health and wellness platform

Woolworths Group is gearing up to launch a new digital platform offering products and services that cater to increased customer interest in health and wellness.

Are solar PV arrays on airports, malls and factories a fast-track to zero-emissions status?

RMIT researchers say siting solar PV arrays atop large open-air buildings such as airports, malls and factories could provide far more power than residential rooftop solar, enabling us to reach net zero emissions faster.

Inner-Melbourne institution embraces trend to urban farming

Collingwood Children’s Farm has been reenvisaged and revitalised as a shining example of intensive small-scale urban agriculture. And it’s attracting more visitors than ever.

All-Australian manufacturer diversifies into specialty flours

All-Australian manufacturer McKenzie’s Foods has expanded its range of flours on the back of the pandemic-lockdown-related home baking boom and increasing health-consciousness in consumers.

Celebrity-backed oat-milk brand seeks US$10b valuation in IPO

Vegan oat milk company Oatly, its brand boosted by high-profile investors including Oprah Winfrey, is set to cash in on booming demand for plant-based milks with an initial public offering in the US.

Boom market for Reishi mushrooms: new report

According to a new report from AMR, the global market for health-promoting Reishi mushrooms will grow at a CAGR of 8.1% between now and 2027 to more than $6.5 billion.

Can science find a solution to climate-change-induced shrinking strawberries?

As warmer night temperatures shrink strawberry size, farmers are losing out – but scientists are working on potential solutions.

Next big thing in nut milks

A new brand of nut milk, lower in calories, oil and sugar than oat milk and using less water to produce than almond milk, has gone gangbusters in the hip cafes of America’s metropolises.

Last-mile delivery takes another leap forward

A new model of grocery shopping is emerging in the US, similar to the door-dashery that’s been happening in Chinese cities now for some time.

NESCAFÉ upcycles waste product to create brand-new beverage line

Nestlé brand NESCAFÉ has launched a new line of distinctively flavoured, lightly caffeinated natural beverage line combining upcycled coffee-berry husks and native Australian botanicals.

Australian sales of plant-based ‘alt-meats’ soar

Consumer demand for plant-based meat substitutes grew exponentially over FY2019-2020 according to a report by think-tank Food Frontier.

‘Acoustic rinsing’ of salad greens could cut food loss – and fatalities

UK scientists have shown that rinsing spinach post-harvest with air-bubble-infused ‘acoustic’ water streams effectively removes bacteria for at least six days, cutting food-poisoning risk and waste.

Solar panels in Sahara could boost renewable energy but damage the global climate – here’s why

The world’s most forbidding deserts could be the best places on Earth for harvesting solar power – the most abundant and clean source of energy we have.

Blackmores reports five-year-high in sales of supplements to China

in its latest half-yearly figures, Australia’s largest supplements manufacturer has reported record revenue from China and strong South-East Asian performance, offsetting for a slump in local sales.

Why the world’s so excited about pulses right now

With demand growing globally for healthy, sustainable plant-based proteins, could pulses become one of the world’s most in-demand agrifood sectors?

Arnott’s poised to become ‘major player’ in $2.8b cereal and snacking sector

Australia’s longest-running biscuit manufacturer is diversifying into the lucrative snack foods and cereals space, forging a deal to buy a 75 per cent interest in local health-food manufacturer Diver Foods just two months after its purchase of Freedom Foods.

Cost-effective innovation ensures mangoes get to market ripe on time

Chinese company Shandong AWT Biotech has created a safe, healthy stimulant that, added to mango storage boxes, turns them into ‘mobile ripening chambers’, enabling suppliers to ripen mangoes fast, anytime, anywhere.

United Nations shines a spotlight on sustainable food systems in 2021

In the lead-up to its inaugural Food Systems Summit, scheduled for September 2021, the United Nations is gathering input from a broad array of stakeholders to flesh out the Summit agenda. The Summit focus is on developing more resilient, sustainable and equitable global food systems. 

Hot-water immersion improves nutrient content and shelf life in tomatoes, finds University of Florida study

Florida researchers have found that a brief dunking in hot water prior to storage improves antioxidant and lycopene content and curbs chilling injuries, prolonging shelf life, in fresh tomatoes.

Sustainable Aussie food and beverage packaging big winners at WorldStar 21

Sustainable food and beverage packaging innovations have netted Australian firms a swag of accolades at the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Awards 2021.

New analysis highlights opportunities in digitalising food supply chains

An investor-inspiring recent read from food-supply-chain technology specialists Culterra Capital delves into the important but oft-overlooked ‘in-between’ world of food supply-chain tech.

Wageningen takes novel approach to showcasing students’ future food scenarios

Students from the Netherlands’ Wageningen University & Research entered a video challenge to showcase a science or tech-based solution to a current food challenge – 10 years into the future. Check out the winning videos.

New tomato variety a potential low-cost source of Parkinson’s disease drug L-DOPA

UK scientists have developed a tomato variety that is naturally rich in L-DOPA, the key bioactive ingredient in a synthetic drug commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

First-ever Peel food and beverage producer guide to launch in early 2021

Peel Development Commission’s soon-to-be-published digital Peel Food and Beverage Capability Guide will promote an array of products unique to Western Australia’s bucolic Peel region.

WSU relaunches Centre for Western Sydney

In response to the economic and social challenges impacting Sydney’s west, the region’s largest university has re-launched its Centre for Western Sydney.

Australia’s Supply Chain Resilience Initiative: incorporating input from ‘priority’ industries

The federal government’s Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, part of its Modern Manufacturing Initiative, has been canvassing industry views on supply-chain vulnerabilities. It will use these to develop roadmaps for each identified ‘priority area’.

Pandemic-fuelled disruption drives global rethink of food supply chains

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for shorter, more resilient supply chains and for diversified, fresh and locally-grown food, says a recent story in the Financial Times.

Cell-cultured chicken nuggets: soon on the menu at Singaporean eateries

In a world-first, chicken meat created from cultured live chicken cells by US-based company Eat Just has been approved for commercial production in Singapore.

Nestlé makes major commitment to sustainability

Confectionery and dairy giant Nestlé has decided to ‘go greener’, releasing a roadmap for making substantive changes to its operations worldwide to shrink the footprint of agriculture.

New, light-energised material could power future smart devices for next-gen IoT

A new semi-conducting material developed by an Australia-China team at Queensland University of Technology will make smart devices used in IoT systems faster, more effective and less pricey to produce.

ANPC research suggests mutant peas could help combat diabetes

In a recent Nature paper, researchers at Murdoch University’s Australian National Phenome Centre have found that incorporating ‘wrinkly’ peas into your diet could reduce your risk of diabetes.

Three UNSW researchers elected as Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering Fellows

On 26 November, the ATSE announced its 2020 Fellows. Among them are three UNSW faculty members, including leading chemical engineer and the CRC’s own Research & Commercialisation Director, Prof. Cordelia Selomulya. 

Local processing critical to cashing in on plant-based, finds Rabobank

A new Rabobank study shows that Australia is well placed to capitalise on the growing trend towards plant-based food – but that local processing capacity will be critical to our competitiveness in this space.

ANPC to develop biobank for WA’s Noongyar people

Researchers from Murdoch University have connected with Aboriginal Elders to develop the first living biobank specific to Western Australia’s First Nations people.

FIAL calls for stakeholder feedback to unlock $200B for Aussie food and agribusiness

FIAL’s recent ‘Capturing the Prize’ report found Australia’s food and ag sector could unlock $200b+ in value and 300,000 new jobs by 2030 if the sector can collaborate to capitalise on 19 identified growth opportunities. Get involved.

CSIRO, Fresh Select to turn vegetables losses into high-nutrient gains

Australia’s national science organisation has teamed with national vegie producer Fresh Select to launch new food manufacturing company, Nutri V, which plans to process surplus fresh vegetables into powders, snack foods and more.

iChemE case studies showcase Australia’s chemical engineering successes

This case-study compilation showcases the contribution of chemical engineers around Australia to solving key challenges in energy, water, environment and health.

Israeli start-up’s flying fruit-pickers harvest hard-to-reach fruit, reducing waste

Ingenious Israeli company Tevel has developed fruit-picking bots to speed and streamline harvesting, able to pick fruit even from the tops of trees up to five metres high. Tevel claims the return on investment is an impressive three weeks.

Regional renewables expert wins UNE Rising Star award

Successful New England-based renewables entrepreneur David Mailler, co-Executive Director of community-focused Meralli Solar, has won the University of New England’s Rising Star Award for 2020.

Murdoch University, ClearVue constructing first commercial-scale solar glass greenhouse

An Australia-based ‘smart building materials’ firm has teamed with Murdoch University to construct a first-of-its-kind experimental ‘clear-solar-glass’ greenhouse on Murdoch’s Perth, WA campus.

Ingenious renewable power system based on upcycled fruit and veg

A novel renewable power-generating system, inspired by the phenomenon that causes aurorae and utilising upcycled local fruit and veg – has bagged Filipino student Cerves Maigue the inaugural James Dyson Sustainability Award.

Alliance of four universities to deliver game-changer in education for Western Sydney

Newcastle and Wollongong universities, UNSW Sydney and now Western Sydney University – collectively the ‘NUW Alliance’ – will collaborate to deliver a new STEM-focused ‘Multiversity’ for Western Sydney’s Aerotropolis precinct.

Victoria’s 2020-21 Budget allocates $65m to future-focused ag strategy

The state’s 2020-21 Budget pledges $65m to ag-focused programs to incentivise on-farm innovation, infrastructure and energy-efficiency. support emerging food sectors and paths to export, and improve regional education and R&D.

Gippsland agribusiness award-winners reflect the region’s diversity

F&F G’s annual awards recognised the diversity of the region’s agribusinesses, with gongs going to cider, beer, pork, beef, dairy, timber and horticultural producers as well as a local farmers’ market.

Australia signs largest-ever trade deal

On 15 November 2020, Australia signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), alongside China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and all the ASEAN nations, together comprising the world’s biggest trading bloc.

New blockchain tech key to cost savings for Northern mango producer

A new blockchain platform has proven to be a game changer for one of Australia’s largest mango producers, providing real-time, secure information from tree to supermarket.

Urban farms thrive under COVID-19

From community vegie gardens to vast vertical farms, city-based cropping ventures are proliferating as the coronavirus pandemic up-ends food supply chains and heightens food-security fears.

Gas phase feeding: an aerosol-led greenhouse revolution?

According to Australia-based Airofresh Intl, gas phase feeding is the way forward for growers serious about getting nutrients into crops.

Professor Jeremy Nicholson makes The Analytical Scientist’s Power List 2020

World-leading metabolomics expert and head of the CRC’s Research Program 3, Professor Nicholson is one of just 10 Australians included on this year’s six-continent, 60-strong Power List.

Coffs Creek, one of numerous waterways in the Coffs region. Credit: Coffs Harbour City Council
Coffs Harbour City Council wins environmental award for remedies to run-off

Coffs council’s work with Southern Cross University investigating the impacts of intensive-horticulture wastewater on local waterways has been recognised in the NSW Government’s annual Excellence in the Environment Awards.

Northern Australia’s supply chains need a shake-up, finds CRCNA study

Capitalising on significant opportunities for economic development will require re-tooling the region’s supply chains to make them more collaborative, connected and high-tech, finds a CRC for Developing Northern Australia study.

Stop spoiling fruit (and veg) rotten: new supply-chain logistics tech

To minimise costly food losses in the journey from farm to fork, it makes sense to invest in logistics software that spans the entire supply chain.

Blackmores dips PAW into global pet-health market

After a year marred by COVID-19-related disruptions, Australia’s iconic but struggling supplements brand is pivoting to a promising new market: pet-health products.

Providence Asset Group set to bring renewable power to regional Victoria

Following last month’s announcement rollout of hydrogen-storage-backed solar facilities across NSW, Providence Asset Group is set to erect a string of similar solar farms across southern Australia.

NSW Farmers, NAB Agribusiness team up to boost farmers’ financial skills

A new agreement between NAB and the state’s peak primary-producer body aims to boost farmers’ financial skills, empowering them to capitalise on better conditions.

Takeaways from GFI’s Asia-Pacific Alternative Protein Summit 2020

There are useful insights aplenty in the public talk sessions and post-Summit blogs from global alt-protein advocate The Good Food Institute’s inaugural APAC-focused summit.

Queensland frozen-berry producer nets Hort Innovation Churchill Fellowship

Queensland producer Stuart McGruddy has been awarded a Hort Innovation Churchill Fellowship to explore how Australia’s berry industry can capitalise on the value-adding opportunities in freezing soft berry fruits.

Australian tech tool tracks fruit pickers under COVID-19 – and record-keeps too

South Australia’s Agricultural Picking Technology (APT) created AgPick three years ago to monitor harvest activities electronically. Under COVID-19 WHS restrictions, it’s proving to be a useful picker tracking tool, too.

STEM, start-ups, R&D to benefit from Federal Budget

Research bodies including universities, CSIRO and CRCs; female-led start-ups; and those seeking STEM careers are all beneficiaries in the 2020-21 Federal Budget.

Federal Budget backs a food-and-region-led recovery

The 2020-2021 Budget has much to offer Australia’s farmers and food producers, providing funds for key infrastructure, regional manufacturing, connectivity and more, says our peak farming body.

Panel discussion: How the New Norm is Impacting the Food and Beverage Factory of the future

In this panel discussion hosted by Food&Beverage Industry News, keynote speakers from industry discuss COVID-19’s likely impact on food and beverage manufacturing going forward.

FIAL’s Program 2030 set to transform Australia’s food and ag sector

FIAL has brought together experts and decision-makers from across the food and agribusiness value chain, including Future Food Systems CRC, to contribute to its Roadmap to 2030.

UNSW, QUT well represented in 2020’s Australian Research Superstar ratings

CRC participant UNSW is known for prodigious research output in science, technology and engineering – as evidenced by this year’s Research Superstar rankings. QUT’s no slouch in the STEM stakes, either.

UNSW professor makes finalist list of prestigious Global Energy Prize

The Faculty of Engineering’s Professor Joe Dong has been shortlisted for the prestigious Global Energy Prize for his work on creating a stable, sustainable power supply for Australia – and potentially, the world.

Dairy and plant proteins: both natural emulsifiers pass muster, find UNSW food scientists

With plant-based food and beverage formulations trending, UNSW food scientists’ comparison of the emulsifying properties of dairy and plant proteins – or a mix of the two – is timely.

Bruker and Telethon back major children’s health project at ANPC

World-leading ANPC scientists are investigating metabolic pathways and inflammatory profiles in pregnant women, infants and young children as a way to predict future disease and conditions such as allergies, obesity and mental health.

Greenhouse tomato industry abuzz about new pollinating robot

An autonomous pollinating robot designed by Israeli company Arugga is being trialled at Costa Group’s multi-million-dollar Tomato Exchange facility in Guyra, NSW.

AFGC releases exporters’ guide to Indonesia’s fast-growing food and beverage market

Australian producers could profit from perusing this practical, data-driven exporters’ guide, which includes detailed information on Indonesia’s food and beverage market landscape, supply chains and regulatory framework for import.

Digital technology to drive efficient, sustainable future transport networks for Australia

A new, Cisco-funded Research Director in Digital Transport at UNSW will guide the development of a technological agenda to improve the safety, efficiency and sustainability of our future transport systems.

NSW DPI on the pulse with northern chickpea growers’ concerns

New findings from NSW DPI’s Ascochyta blight resistance trials could prove useful to farmers across Australia’s northern chickpea-growing region deciding what variety to plant next season.

Joint study with Germany to position Australia as a future hydrogen export powerhouse

With hydrogen-as-renewables trials already underway across Australia, the federal government and Germany have agreed to explore the viability of a hydrogen supply industry. 

Alt-protein start-ups attract big bucks in H1 2020

AgFunder’s mid-year investment report has found that ‘innovative food’ start-ups, notably those in the alt-protein space, attracted more investment capital in the first half of 2020 than in the entire previous year.

NT’s new Young Tall Poppy talks turtle

Charles Darwin University’s Dr Carla Eisemberg has netted a 2020 Young Tall Poppy Science Award for research she hopes will be used to improve Indigenous nutrition and inspire sustainable turtle-meat harvesting in remote communities.

Four entrepreneurs named finalists in Food & Fibre Gippsland’s annual agribusiness awards

Whether the primary produce was bees, berries, bovine products or beer, these forward-thinking agrifood-related Gippsland-based businesses thought outside the box to add value and expand their markets.

Why some lab mice get fat on fructose and others, not so much

UCLA researchers have found that mice prone to obesity and diabetes metabolise fructose better after receiving faecal matter transplants from mice with more useful gut microbes.

Australia’s first-ever guidelines on sharing Indigenous land management know-how welcomed

More than 100 Indigenous custodians contributed to Australia’s first-ever guidelines on sharing – and building on – 40,000-plus years of collective knowledge around managing our land, sea and environmental resources.

New federal legislation urges Australian business to reduce, re-use and recycle

The Australian Government introduced game-changing waste management legislation into Parliament this week with the Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020.

NFF sets zero-emissions target for 2050

Australia’s National Farmers’ Federation has pledged to cut the agriculture sector’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero within 20 years, with Chief Executive Tony Mahar citing the risk of adopting ‘a passive approach’ to combating climate change.

Regional Development Australia ACT announces Canberra’s first urban vertical farm

The ACT’s first vertical farm installation has landed at Canberra’s Ginninderry development, a 6-star Green Star Community west of Belconnen.

ANPC scientists publish game-changing findings on COVID-19 effects

World-leading ANPC scientists have found metabolic evidence of multi-organ dysfunction in blood-plasma samples from COVID-19-infected WA patients. Now they’re running large-scale analyses and looking at potential long-term effects.

UNSW a global contender across the board

UNSW has rocketed upwards in this year’s ARWU global research rankings to #74, and now outranks all other Australian unis with its across-the-board research performance.

More fun with fungi: Fable Food Co turns mushrooms into new, nutrition-packed products

Keen to differentiate themselves in the plant-proteins space, three entrepreneurial Aussies – a farmer, a chef and a former fashion-business owner – turned to fungi as a nutrition-packed alt-meat ingredient. That was just the start.

Could farming wheat indoors alleviate food insecurity?

University of Florida research suggests wheat yields could be boosted exponentially if this staple grain was grown undercover, in vertical farm facilities. To make it economically viable, just add reliable renewable energy.

Full STEAM ahead: ABARES’ Science & Innovation Awards 2021

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture, maths) students and early-career researchers, put your innovation hats on: it’s that time of year again.

Bega Cheese turns to IoT to streamline supply chain and cut costs

Major Australian dairy processor Bega Cheese is developing a new IoT-based online service that optimises milk pick-up schedules and cuts transport and distribution costs.

COVID-19 disruption drives interest in vertical farming

As British farmers struggle to provide fresh food for the UK’s citizens, grappling with labour shortages and complex export supply chains, vertical farm facilities are attracting increasing interest.

Professor Jeremy Nicholson: an ‘inside’ view of 21st-century global healthcare challenges

World metabolomics expert Professor Jeremy Nicholson talks, pre-pandemic, with News-Medical.net about some of the world’s most pressing and costly healthcare challenges – and how to combat them from the inside out.

FoodTrack nutritional database: on track and online

Health researchers and consumers now have ready access to the extensive nutritional database developed by CSIRO and The Heart Foundation via a new, sophisticated online analytics platform developed by UK-based Nutritics.

Search and destroy: DPI, UNE and QUT scientists join forces to develop weeding robot

The Federal Government has pledged $2.9 million to a multi-partner project under the new ‘Kelpie’ CRC-P that aims to automate the labour-intensive job of controlling weeds in pasture.

Fixing the world’s broken food system post-pandemic

Rebuilding the global economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic offers us the chance to revamp our dysfunctional food systems, making them more resilient, sustainable, healthy and equitable, say three IMF bloggers.

Major finance firms back $10m Australian food supply chain initiative

Several of Australia’s largest food brands will collaborate with financial services companies in an initiative helmed by Food Agility CRC to streamline agribusiness supply chains post-pandemic.

Genentech and a ‘new era of personalised health care’

Genentech is using big data, digital health tools and sophisticated analytics to improve individuals’ access to ‘life-altering, biomarker-driven therapies’, opening the door to safer, more effective medical treatments.

Revitalising Australia’s onshore food manufacturing

In an increasingly uncertain world, it’s important to be food self-sufficient. But if an Australian food-manufacturing revival is to succeed, we need to be smart about what we make and how we make it, says Ian Neubauer in The Farmer.

CSIRO helms multidisciplinary research initiative to develop fish-free omega-3 oils

CSIRO has joined forces with Pharmamark Nutrition to produce omega-3 oils from marine microorganisms, delivering a sustainable alternative to wild-fish sourcing of the health-promoting substance.

Protected cropping and food-supply-chain resilience

Australia-based crop scientist Oula Ghannoum discusses how tech-enabled protected cropping can boost food-supply-chain resilience – right now, and in a post-pandemic world.

CSIRO to join Aerotropolis’s innovation cluster

Australia’s national science organisation, CSIRO, has announced that it will be moving several of its divisions to the Western City & Aerotropolis Authority’s planned Agribusiness Precinct, to be sited alongside the new, curfew-free international airport.

Western Sydney’s Aerotropolis to gain an integrated logistics hub

Western Sydney Aerotropolis’s planned Integrated Logistics Hub, part of the new Agribusiness Precinct, will deliver ‘a multi-modal supply chain solution for the Aerotropolis, Greater Sydney and regional NSW’, says WCAA.

Game-changing ‘nutritional fingerprinting’ research enables accurate early intervention to combat world’s costliest diseases

Breakthrough collaborative research by Australian, UK and US researchers has advanced in our understanding of individual differences in metabolic response to diet, with far-reaching potential benefits in preventing lifestyle-related disease.

NFF’s Get Australia Growing plan calls for a smart, sustainable region-led recovery

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) believes the road to recovery post-pandemic ‘begins in the bush’ and outlines a multi-pronged plan of action in its Get Australia Growing document, launched on 14 July 2020.

COVID-19 and the gut microbiome

Could a specific strain of bacteria in a person’s gut make infection more likely on exposure to SARS CoVid-2? A group of UNSW scientists proposed this in a recent paper, and findings of mid-scale human trials lend weight to their hypothesis.

Supporting waste-to-value solutions to foster sustainable growth

Established in 2019, NSW Circular is helping the state transition to a circular economy, in which waste problems are transformed into sustainable, value-adding solutions.

Providence Asset Group backs UNSW scientists to commercialise breakthrough H2 technology

If novel technology developed by UNSW researchers at the new Hydrogen Energy Research Centre can make a fast transition from lab to market, low-cost hydrogen storage could become a clean, green reality as early as 2021.

Australia’s largest mango supplier implements next-level tracking

Manbulloo, Australia’s largest producer of mangoes for domestic and export markets, has updated its GS1 labelling to improve the transparency and traceability of its supply chains.

New on the menu: 3D-printed, plant-based steak

Redefine Meat launched the world’s first plant-based, sustainable, 3D-printed ‘alt-steak’ product in June and plans to market-test it at high-end restaurants from later in 2020.

Green banana waste a potential ‘nutriceutical’ feed for high-performing horses

A new Fight Food Waste CRC project will explore the potential for turning green banana waste into high-nutrient, high-value horse feed.

Building trust in Australia’s food supply chains: National Food Traceability Program rolls out

A new national traceability program rolling out from July will help Australia’s food supply chains achieve end-to-end traceability and lift capability across the sector.

‘Exceptional opportunities for smaller brands’: Chinese millennials looking for new supplement stars

Australian e-commerce platform BuyNatural believes there are ‘exceptional opportunities’ in China for local dietary supplement brands, with consumers eager to purchase ‘newer and smaller’ brands.

Bigger not always best: Agile and innovative smaller brands making waves in Australia

Big brands can no longer rely on their heavyweight clout for food business success in Australia, with consumers and retailers increasingly attracted to smaller ‘underdog’ start-ups, which they perceive to be more innovative.

Keeping your gut microbiome healthy to combat COVID-19

While we can control our external environments only so far, we can help protect ourselves from the SARS-2 virus by buttressing our internal defences, say experts in the field.

Researchers find individual variation in metabolising food linked to different gut microbiota

Is there a link between the gut microbiome and weight loss? Yes, say world-leading experts in the emerging field of personalised nutrition.

AI teams outperform traditional growers in WUR’s second Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge

Wageningen University & Research’s successful second Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge yielded powerful insights and ‘globally applicable’ algorithms, with AI teams outperforming human growers.

Australia’s biggest barramundi producer pivots to direct-to-public sales

Its export and restaurant markets disrupted by COVID-19, MainStream Aquaculture accelerated plans to build a new customer base via direct sales. In the process, it has more than doubled retail sales of its premium ‘Infinity Blue’ barra.

New process can decontaminate fresh produce postharvest with supercharged air

Is there a better way than chemical washing to decontaminate fresh produce postharvest? Scientists at NSW DPI and Hort Innovation have developed a method that’s fast, safe and cost-effective.

Digital transformation: Alibaba predicts boom in China retail digitisation and healthy foods

China online commerce giant Alibaba has predicted that the retail sector in China will see a boom in digitisation as well as a rise in healthy food options as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Australian vegetable grower to diversify into glasshouse cucumbers

Glasshouse producer-marketer Flavorite is emulating the European horticulture sector, growing cucumbers in high-tech glasshouses in a bid to bring year-round consistency to Australia’s cucumber supply chain.

Why deliver to retailers rather than consumers?

As the world shifts to adapt to the new normal in the wake of the coronavirus, what makes producers continue supplying to retailers instead of adopting a direct-to-consumer approach?

Australian study of cold-chain logistics reveals high cost of supply-chain food loss

A new study has found that food losses resulting from cold-food-chain deficiencies cost nearly $4 billion p.a. in farm-gate value. The solution, contends AFCCC chair Mark Mitchell, lies in transparency and cooperation.

Healthy home-and-away growth in Australia’s supplements sector, reports CMA

A recent report from Complementary Medicines Australia shows the nation’s vitamin and supplements sector continuing to surge in domestic and export markets, especially across Asia.

Customisable electric truck platform set to transform rapid transport

If all goes according to plan, the customisable electric utility-vehicle platform US-based, Amazon-backed automotive start-up Rivian is creating could be a game-changer for food supply chains worldwide.

CSIRO offers cybersecurity tips for remote workers

While human error remains the biggest cybersecurity threat, cautions Data61’s Dr Surya Nepal, there are many things individuals and organisations can do to keep their business private and secure during the COVID-19 shutdown and beyond.

COVID-19 adversely impacts Asia-Pacific seed-trade supply chain

While net importing countries such as Australia will be adversely impacted by disruptions to the seed supply chain caused by COVID-19 shutdowns across the APAC region, those with shorter, more streamlined supply chains will be better off.

Midstream-tech start-ups surge in China, meeting consumer demand for safe, speedy food supply

Online ag-food supply-chain platform Lehe Food raised 400 million Yuan (US$56m) in its third round of funding, reflecting the rise of digital start-ups streamlining the journey from farm to fork.

Why the future of farming is in cities: the big money in vertical farming

This video highlights some of the high-tech commercial vertical-farming operations supplying fresh greens to cities across the world – and some of the big-name investors backing them.

New microsensor patch delivers personalised food recommendations

Researchers are trialling a ‘food-personalisation’ patch that uses microsensors to sample interstitial tissue, ascertaining how specific foods impact the wearer’s blood-sugar levels – and how this varies, day to day.

Cumquat farmers value-add to minimise waste

Keen to become a zero-waste operation, Australia’s largest commercial cumquat growers began processing on-farm. Now, they don’t just sell fresh cumquats; they use every part of the fruit bar its seeds to create high-value gourmet products.

IM CRC CEO David Chuter on building Australia’s manufacturing future

Post-pandemic, Australia can build resiliency and attain global success by developing onshore manufacturing capability in collaborative industry-research hubs, argues David Chuter, CEO and managing director of the Innovative Manufacturing CRC.

Bioactive compounds in citrus and olives may boost heart health, finds study

Just eight weeks of supplementation with citrus and olive-leaf extracts led to ‘remarkable’ improvements in heart-health markers, report Spanish scientists. This is good news for growers keen to value-add – and health-conscious consumers.

Clustering and the Role of Agri-Food Clusters in Crisis

Roger Van Hoesel, Managing Director of renowned Dutch agrifood cluster Foodvalley NL, delivers this informative lecture on how successful clusters in the agrifood space can contribute in crisis situations.

New high-tech ‘quarantine’ greenhouse to run on broad-spectrum LEDs

Wageningen, the Netherlands’ premier protected-cropping research institute, has chosen a broad-spectrum LED solution from Fluence for its Serre Red greenhouse, which will conduct critical research into the world’s most costly crop diseases.

ARC Training Centre for the Chemical Industries seeks industry patrons for next-gen scientists

The ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Chemical Industries is offering agrifood-tech companies the chance to fund and mentor promising Masters-degree students (and potential recruits) – and to own the resulting IP.

China’s meat-import bans are a supply-chain traceability issue, says ag-tech entrepreneur

China’s recent suspension of Australian meat exports highlights the need to improve supply-chain transparency and traceability, contends farmer and digital ag-tech entrepreneur Justin Webb in this opinion piece for AgFunder News.

Northern Australia’s aquaculture sector set to grow fivefold by 2030: new CRCNA report

Northern Australia’s aquaculture industry is forecast to grow fivefold and exceed $1.34 billion in value by 2030 – if industry players collaborate to surmount challenges and seize opportunities, states a new report from CRCNA.

Start-ups and SMES feel the COVID-19 bite, but remain agile

Two stories in the Australian Financial Review look at the challenges and opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic presents to tech entrepreneurs.

Chinese dietary-supplement buyers value quality and listed ingredients most, finds USP

According to data from the United States Pharmacopeia, the top three purchase criteria for dietary supplements among Chinese consumers are product quality (79 per cent), ingredient list (60%) and quality assurance seal (53%).

Kirk Coningham on freight, logistics and COVID-19-related disruption

From panic-buying of non-perishable pantry staples to increased online ordering, COVID-19’s impacts on freight and logistics are multiple, as are the lessons to be learned.

CSIRO’s Innovation Enabled Growth program for SME leaders: apply now

CSIRO is offering free entry to its new, online Innovation Enabled Growth program to a select group of small-to-medium enterprise leaders in the agrifood space.

Plant-based ‘faux meats’ with shorter supply chains see demand skyrocket during pandemic

As supply chains for traditional livestock products falter in countries across the globe, plant-based meat alternatives, such as those from Impossible Foods and Beyond Meats, are filling the void, with product sales skyrocketing in recent weeks.

Fungi as fake meat is mushrooming around the globe

Networks of mycelial filaments can mimic the texture of meat, minus animal protein’s outsized carbon footprint, argues this WIRED story on the future of fungi as convincing – and sustainable – meat substitute.

High-value vanilla crop grown in geodome from Sydneysider’s smartphone

Sydney-based inventor David Soo has grown vanilla worth $600,000 in a custom-made high-tech geodome in which everything can be controlled remotely via smartphone.

Delicious or disgusting? Experts clash over APAC’s insect-based food potential

Insects have been much-touted lately as a healthy, sustainable source of alternative protein, spawning a swarm of start-ups. But just how viable is the sector’s growth potential in APAC?

New UNSW professor to champion cellular agriculture

“It is cellular agriculture that will enable us one day to eat meat without having to kill an animal,” says recently arrived UNSW Professor Johannes le Coutre, who will lead the university’s research into this exciting emerging field.

Coronavirus: Scientific literature shows key role of micronutrients in optimal immune functioning

Better use of immunonutrition – specifically, vitamins C and D and mineral zinc – could benefit groups vulnerable to COVID-19, according to a recent review in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health.

In the Loop: US recycler pivots to provide reuseable packaging platform

Remember that green-movement mantra, ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’? Now, US-based recycling firm TerraCycle has launched a globally available platform, the Loop™, for companies employing reuseable packaging.

Macadamias’ sustainability credentials stack up

In a food-insecure future of climatic extremes, sustainable crops with high nutritional and market value are the ones we will likely turn to. And according to recent research, macadamias are up there with the best of them.

USDA supports urban ag with US$3m in grant funding

The USDA, via its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, has announced US$3m in competitive grants for urban agriculture projects. It’s a win for those keen to bring fresh-food production closer to city consumers.

Can urban-fringe indoor farms help in our recovery post-pandemic?

The supply-chain disruption precipitated by the pandemic shutdown may provide the motivation needed to reinvigorate urban agriculture, contends protected cropping expert Oula Ghannoum.

COVID-19 pandemic a chance to rethink global food system, says sustainable development expert

Feeding a post-pandemic world without destroying it requires rethinking our food production systems, re-evaluating the economics of overconsumption and facing up to the real costs of food waste, contends GIFT CEO Chandran Nair.

Turning Australia’s wine industry waste into high-value nutriceutical

Australia’s wine industry, keen to maintain its ‘clean, green’ image; is working with the Fight Food Waste CRC in a bid to turn ‘waste product’ grape marc into high-value nutriceutical grape seed extract.

Independent Australian milk supplier pivots swiftly to rejig supply chain

The COVID-19 crisis is forcing food suppliers to adapt: a case in point is dairy producer-supplier Riverina Fresh, which has turned obstacle into opportunity.

‘Hands-free’ growers set to profit from food safety fears in COVID-19 pandemic

Fresh Local Produce of Ohio is reaping the benefits of its automated production system, with huge demand for its pre-packed salads in the COVID-19 shutdown.

Supply chain disruptions and ‘unprecedented’ food loss in COVID-19-strapped US

Rejigging the US’s food supply chain to adapt to the new, COVID-19 restricted normal isn’t easy. One of the results is massive food loss.

Baked-beans revival a health boon

Baked beans are making a pandemic comeback, and health experts are pleased, touting the nutritional credentials of the humble pulse-based product.

Global spice boom equals new opportunities for Northern Australia’s producers

Across the world, demand is on the rise for high-value spice crops such as caraway and cumin. This is good news for those looking to establish a new export-focused industry in northern Australia.

Australian Government releases new COVID-19 app and WhatsApp channel

A new COVID-19 app and WhatsApp channel packed with up-to-date information on COVID-19 were released this week by the federal Department of Health.

Global malt producer closes farm-to-fork loop with anaerobic digestion

Global malt-product supplier Muntons has invested in a novel closed-loop solution to shrink its carbon footprint, turning waste into biofertiliser for its barley suppliers and green power for itself.

Help for agrifood-tech start-ups scaling up

Start-ups that surmount the ‘proof-of-concept’ hurdle have a better shot at attracting investors, but the scale-up stage comes with its own challenges, and expert support during this time can be vital.

CRCs and CRC-Ps respond to the COVID-19 crisis

The CRC Association’s directory of CRC and CRC-P responses to COVID-19 includes initiatives to speed recovery, build a more sustainable society and position us to respond effectively to future challenges.

Preparing food manufacturing businesses for the new, post-pandemic normal

Manufacturing industry experts say preparing to do business post-COVID-19 means transitioning to a more flexible, more localised and less ‘human-dependent’ way of working.

Clinical trials for potential COVID-19 therapies: zinc, honey and more…

Around the world, clinical trials are underway to test the efficacy of various potential therapeutic ingredients for COVID-19 symptoms, from zinc and omega-3 to honey.

COVID-19 impacts food industry Down Under

Widespread community shutdowns and border closures in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the food industries in Australia and New Zealand, with industry’s biggest concerns being export continuity and food safety.

Have to Zoom? Do so securely…

If your teleconferencing tool of choice is Zoom, follow WIRED’s tips to ensure you don’t compromise participants’ privacy – or risk giving others access to potentially valuable IP.

Sustainable ‘hyper-local’ vertical farm proves timely

Sprout Stack runs Australia’s only commercial-scale vertical farm, growing fresh salad greens in the Sydney metro area. And with COVID-19 disrupting supply chains worldwide, the company’s low-food-miles position is proving advantageous.

COVID-19 food industry updates

This useful continuing compilation provides ‘rolling updates and breaking news on the implications of COVID-19 for the food sector’ from across William Reed Business Media’s B2B titles.

Podcast: LesserEvil’s dedication to sustainability shows multiple paths forward

In this podcast from FoodNavigator USA, the CEO of healthy snack foods company LesserEvil talks about why sustainability is resonating with consumers and how LesserEvil has incorporated sustainability values into its business.

Malt and oat extracts are right on trend

They’re clean-label, minimally processed, 100 per cent plant-based and packed with functional and nutritional benefits: natural malt and oat extracts are useful, versatile, on-trend ingredients, according to US-based Malt Products Corporation.

Map supply chains to minimise disruption, says ASCM

Some supply-chain organisations are better prepared than others to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, contends the Association for Supply Chain Management, applauding ‘those that had the foresight to map their networks before the crisis emerged’.

Strong demand for spots in Peel Business Park’s planned Agri-Innovation Precinct

Demand is booming for space in the planned Agri-Innovation Precinct within Peel Business Park, currently being developed at Nambeelup, WA. The AI Precinct will have genetics and food security research programs at its core.

Using ‘digital twins’ to model new ideas

Producing ‘digital twins’ that mirror products and processes in virtual reality can help companies identify problems and test new ideas quickly and cost-effectively.

Google AI researchers teach robotic dog new tricks

A new learning system being trialled by Google AI researchers ‘could represent the first steps (sorry) toward robots that learn to move not thanks to exhaustive coding, but by watching videos of animals running and jumping’, says WIRED writer Matt Simon in this fascinating read.

COVID-19 clinics to ‘pop up’ across rural Australia, but risk still low in regions

Rural Doctors Association of Australia president Dr John Hall has welcomed the federal government’s decision to establish up to 100 ‘pop-up’ clinics as part of its $2.4 billion COVID-19 response initiative.

$110m government initiative to secure freight access for Australia’s premium food exporters

A new $110m federal government initiative aims to bolster Australia’s agricultural and fisheries sector during the COVID-19 pandemic by enabling high-quality produce to be air-freighted into key overseas markets.

Australian Government stimulus package: useful stuff for businesses, employers and employees

The Australian Government’s $130bn stimulus package is designed to counter the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic. Here, we outline what it covers, and where to get free business advice.

High-end eateries innovate in COVID-19 shutdown

Restaurants across Australia are attempting to counter the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing new consumer options including takeaway, home delivery and food boxes.

COVID-19 pandemic highlights need for vertical farming in cities worldwide

The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates how critical it is for major centres of population to have localised agri-food production sites, contends Joel Cuello, Professor of Biosystems Engineering at The University of Arizona.

Byron Bay start-up makes nutrient-dense brewers’ flour from beer waste

A specialty flour made of spent grain from the beer-brewing industry that would otherwise have been wasted netted Byron Bay-based start-up Grainstone an innovation award at last year’s Global Table and funding from the Fight Food Waste CRC.

Fable Food Co: turning mushrooms into nutritious, tasty, sustainable meat substitutes

Fable Food Co began turning mushrooms into meat-alternative products at the start of 2020. By March, the company was experiencing strong demand, says company CEO Michael Fox.

Mediterranean diet boosts good gut bacteria linked to healthy ageing

Recent research has found that eating a Mediterranean diet causes microbiome changes linked to better cognitive function and memory, immunity and bone strength, notes Prof. Paul O’Toole in this article from The Conversation.

How to stand out from the crowd in plant-based

As the plant-based and vegan product market becomes increasingly populated, is there a danger of saturation and how can manufacturers ensure that consumers latch onto their offer rather than that of their competitors?

Immunity innovation: Gencor to study PEA’s immune-boosting effects via human trial

Gencor Pacific is embarking on a human trial in Australia to validate the immunity-boosting ability of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) against the backdrop of the rising demand for immunity supplements amid the worldwide spread of COVID-19.

New COVID-19 antibody test developed

A new ELISA test developed by scientists at NYC’s Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Finland and University of Melbourne can ascertain rapidly whether a person has developed immunity to the coronavirus.

David Attenborough’s delayed new documentary urges action to redress global harm

Interviewed by New Scientist, the acclaimed filmmaker is calm in the face of the coronavirus pandemic but expresses dismay at the state of the Earth – and offers suggestions on redressing the balance, including advice for food producers.

Pathogen-detecting platform for indoor and outdoor cropping wins US$250,000 prize

Scanit Technologies has netted US$250,000 in prize money with its novel in-field platform that detects airborne plant pathogens and alerts growers, enabling them to take action to prevent potentially devastating crop infections.

New Danish drone monitors crops in vertical farms

A group of students at Denmark’s Aarhus University has developed a drone that can monitor any individual plant’s condition in vertical cultivation.

Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge: the quest to grow fruit and veg remotely continues

The world’s in lockdown but cherry tomatoes grow on, minus human contact, in the greenhouses at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands.

California-based Clover Sonoma debuts fully renewable plant-based milk carton

California-based dairy Clover Sonoma is making sustainability strides with the launch of a new milk carton made entirely from plant materials.

What will tomorrow’s bakery and snacks landscape look like?

Consumers are demanding more than just indulgence – they want a treat that’s healthy but still tasty; sustainable yet comes with an extended shelf life; is portable and size-proportioned; is Instagrammable; and comes with a story or purpose.

Waste spuds project attracts big bucks

Four of Australia’s largest potato producers have pledged nearly $1 million to a three-year Fight Food Waste CRC project that aims to find new ways to use what would otherwise be wasted spuds.

Podcast series: Medicine made for you

The Conversation UK’s fascinating three-part podcast series explores various aspects of the trend towards personalised medicine.

Elon Musk’s brother ramps up vertical farming venture

In 2016, Elon Musk’s brother Kimbal co-founded Brooklyn-NY-based vertical-farming venture Square Roots as part of a wider quest to bring fresh, local produce to cities. By mid-year, he says, the first Square Roots ‘Super Farm’ will be operational.

Food Agility Summit 2020 wrap-up

At the Food Agility CRC’s inaugural Summit, 200+ attendees from across the agri-food sector explored the future of the sector in Australia: its challenges, opportunities and constraints. Watch the highlights video here.

The decade for digital: a digital food system by 2030?

The digital future of Australia’s ag-food sector is explored by experts in the field at the Food Agility Summit in February 2020. Think sensors, satellites, LIDAR and AI, 5-G connectivity, automation and more.

Podcast: FNQ farmer’s covered capsicums weather climate extremes

An Atherton Tablelands farmer who invested in a 2,000sqm greenhouse to grow capsicums year-round talks about the costs, challenges and rewards of going undercover in the tropics.

AI-driven ‘bin-picking’ bots master new tasks

US start-up Covariant.ai has released a new gen of industrial ‘bin-picking’ robots into warehouses, impressing some of the world’s biggest names in tech.

Tiny bat-like drones eradicate greenhouse insect pests

PATs’ tiny bat-like drone is ‘an artificial predator’ that hunts down harmful insects in greenhouses and kills them mid-air. ‘revolutionising an industry with a sustainable solution’, claim the micro-drone’s Dutch developers.

CSIRO launches Digital Twin: a 4-D map of Western Sydney

Phase one of the just-launched NSW Spatial Digital Twin – a virtual 4-D (3-D plus time) model of Western Sydney – gives policy-makers, planners and the public a detailed view of what our future might look like.

Pea protein to Asia: a versatile, plant-based, nutrient-dense ingredient for product innovation

With the launch of its new, versatile pea protein powder Radipure, global food giant Cargill is looking to extend its reach into the burgeoning Asian market for healthy, plant-based, high-nutrient ingredients.

US dairy company leads data-fuelled drive to help farmers prove organic credentials

US dairy-foods manufacturer Stonyfield has joined forces in connected-tech program OpenTEAM to help it sequester more carbon and improve on-farm soil health.

UNE’s SMART Region Incubator launches growth-focused ag innovation cluster

UNE’s SMART Regional Incubator has launched an initiative connecting government, industry and research partners in “a network of innovative agricultural growth businesses that aims to deliver on Australia’s regional growth agenda”.

The Digitalisation of Flavour: How Data and Machine Learning Can Transform Food Systems

Experts in the field discuss latest developments at the nexus of flavour science and artificial intelligence, and how these are set to transform food systems worldwide, in this In this free hour-long on-demand webinar from FoodNavigator.

New geothermal temperature-control system for greenhouses is wallet- and eco-friendly 

The Ecoloop™, a compact geothermal temperature and humidity control system, uses the ground’s steady temperature to regulate the internal temperature of closed-loop greenhouses, reducing energy costs by more than 60 per cent compared to traditional HVAC systems

‘Rewilding’ for climate change

Experts are suggesting UK farmers should be reimbursed for ‘rewilding’ parts of their properties, returning farmland to its natural state to encourage wildlife, restore ecological balance and sequester carbon.

Around the world in 7 futuristic farms: Creative solutions for tomorrow’s hungry planet

In the quest to cut food miles, cover less costly acreage and leave ever-smaller carbon footprints, food businesses are innovating like there’s no tomorrow.

Plug’n’play vertical farming system reduces costs, effort and energy use

Vertical farmers, rejoice! Finally, a ‘plug and play’ VF system that’s eco-friendly, largely automated and costs far less to run than the average vertical facility. Here, AgFunder interviews Niall Skinner, lead mechanical engineer at IGS, about how the tech works.

A bin-full of new solutions for cutting food waste

These days, there are as many smart solutions for cutting food waste as there are sources of it – and they extend from paddock to plate to (compost) bin.

Lemon balm and mango – what functional benefits can they bring?

Mango-growers in Queensland and Northern Australia take note: those less-than-perfect mangoes can now be put to profitable use.

Dave Stangis, former Chief Sustainability Officer for Campbell’s, on the future of food

In this thought-provoking two-part podcast from Forbes Insights’ Michael Gale, Stangis discusses current challenges and opportunities for food companies globally

Jack Bobo, founder of future-food-focused consultancy Futurity, on food and tech trends

In the latest of AgFunder News’ Future Food podcast series hosted by Louisa Burwood-Taylor, Bobo shares his views on why plant-based foods are here to stay

Glasshouse trials with native pollinators prove fruitful

Hort Innovation-Western Sydney University glasshouse trials at the university’s National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre using native stingless bee species

Kiwi for better slumber: How plant foods and probiotics can regulate circadian rhythms

Along with probiotic supplementation, consuming plant foods rich in fibre and polyphenols has been shown by New Zealand-based researchers to help restore microbiota balance in the gut, regulating circadian rhythms and improving sleep quality.

Food-mapping America

A team at the University of Illinois has developed the first high-resolution map of the US food supply chain, a comprehensive snapshot of all food flows between US counties

Plant-based in Thailand – ADM aims to fill high-protein gap with new beverage solution

The Human Nutrition division of US-based company ADM has launched what it claims is the first plant-based, high-protein beverage in Thailand, in a bid to address what it sees as a clear gap in the market.

Bonjour, robots!

And while we’re on the subject, check out AgFunder News’ round-up of some of the troop of agricultural robots that showed off their smart moves at the annual International Forum of Agricultural Robotics (known by its French acronym, FIRA) in Toulouse in December 2019.

Robots on the rise in greenhouse horticulture

Recent research by AgriDirect shows that the use of robots among Dutch greenhouse growers is up 3% since 2018, with 11% of 1,400 respondents deploying robots for cultivation in 2019.

HelloFresh… the Netflix of food?

HelloFresh has a presence in 10 countries including the US, where it ranks high in the hotly contested ‘meal kit’ category and plans to expand its offerings to include Paleo and Keto meal options.

Banana waste to biodegradable bags

UNSW researchers have found a novel way to turn banana-crop waste – mainly, the cellulose-rich stems of felled banana plants – into recyclable, biodegradable ‘plastic’ bags, solving two industrial-waste problems in one fell swoop.