Greater sustainability and improved nutrition through smart technology and supply chain logistics
This review highlights how interventions such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photo-selective films, and exposure of plants to mild stresses, alongside developing new varieties with desired traits, could be used to optimise the nutritional quality, particularly the content of polyphenols, of blueberry grown under covers.
This report was authored by Maria Veronica Chandra-Hioe with contributions from Merran White.
The $400,000 National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study was funded by the federal government’s Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre(FIAL) as a follow-up to FIAL’s Roadmap for Reducing Australia’s Food Waste by Half by 2030. The study looked at the nature, scale, causes and impacts of food loss and waste across Australia, identifying ‘hot spots’ for waste and environmental impacts as well as testing and costing scenarios. The study’s authors conclude that the government’s target to halve food waste nationally by 2030 is achievable, provided this effort is industry-led and backed by a ‘supportive policy framework’.
This original paper from consultant town planner and author of Rethinking the City, Dr Steven Liaros, explores how circular economy (CE) debates might contribute to, and support, the changes needed for a sustainable future.
This White Paper details the challenges faced by the cellular agriculture industry and makes three key recommendations Cellular Agriculture Australia believes would enable the industry to reach its full potential and become globally competitive. In summary, they are: growing the pool of Australian graduates skilled in relevant areas (biomedical engineering, food science, agricultural science and synthetic biology); adding cross-disciplinary expertise from biotechnology, agriculture and food science, and from industry, to Australia’s cellular agriculture research; and establishing at-scale manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure, including publicly-funded facilities, to support viable commercialisation of the industry.
Emerging technologies and innovations – from food-sensing and precision agriculture to personalised nutrition – offer opportunities to transform food systems, yet adoption has been slow. This World Economic Forum session explores key learnings from country-based innovation hubs across regions that could help accelerate this transformation.
The Australian agrifood sector’s willingness to innovate and add-value are key ingredients for success, as exemplified by the 50 innovations profiled in the 2021 edition of FIAL’s annual Australian Food and Agribusiness Innovations compendium.
This report reviews current best practices and technology for protected cropping facilities and explores research trends in the sector as first steps towards advancing the technological capabilities of Australia’s indoor horticultural industry and delivering solutions that meet Southern Hemisphere industry-specific needs.
This original paper from consultant town planner and author of Rethinking the City, Steven Liaros explores how circular economy (CE) debates might contribute to, and support, the changes needed for a sustainable future.
Australian Native Food and Botanicals (ANFAB), previously operating as ANFIL – Australia Native Food Industry Limited, is the peak national body representing the interests of this rapidly growing sector. ANFAB worked with industry, federal and state governments, and other organisations to determine and prioritise the R&D and market development strategies required to progress the industry, as detailed in this document. The vision? To transform Australia’s native foods and botanicals sector into a globally successful national industry that is culturally inclusive, sustainable, ethical, agile and profitable.