Research themes

The CRC works to advance the development of sustainable food systems across three overlapping areas:

Smart specialist food-industry clusters that play to Australia’s regional agrifood strengths, co-locating industry, service providers and R&D, alongside food processing, storage, renewable-energy, waste-recycling and water-saving facilities to benefit all cluster members
New equipment, tools, technology and systems for high-tech protected cropping that are designed to suit Australian conditions
Solutions for adding value to produce; improving food processing, packing and logistics; and proving the provenance of premium food goods.

Realising the unique potential of agri-food regions through:

Analysis and pre-feasibility services to guide industry development
Design solutions for sustainable industrial precincts which integrate renewable water, energy and waste technology and reduce infrastructure cost for tenants
Supporting government and industry partners in specific regional clusters as they work to build manufacturing capability and connected value chains from farm to consumer.

More resilient, consistent and profitable production through:

Partnering engineers with plant scientists to reimagine intensive production systems
Applying advanced automation, control and sensing technologies to optimise the productivity of labour, energy, water and other inputs
New downstream manufacturing partnerships, including indoor systems for producing specialised inputs for precision nutrition goods.

Increasing the value-adding capability of the Australian food sector through:

Novel formulation and production protocols for manufactured goods to optimise nutritional outcomes
Innovation in specialised segments including alternative protein goods, free-from foods and precision nutrition products, including those derived from indigenous species
Innovation in food processing, packing and logistics technology
New science and technology for verifying product claims.