Ecosystems

Members of FIPWA

Innovation precincts: More than just postcodes

Innovation precincts: More than just postcodes We hear a lot about “innovation precincts” these days. Every region seems to want one, and every strategy document seems to reference them. And for good reason: innovation precincts can be powerful drivers of economic growth, collaboration, and industry transformation. The simple version of the story is this: put…

Local research homing in on the year round truffle

Local research homing in on the year round truffle

Research progress, technology advancements and opportunities to support a new truffle species which can be harvested in winter, spring and summer seasons was outlined last week. Academics, farmers, industry partners and representatives converged on the McHenry farm at Mt Lindesay recently to hear about these advancements in truffle cultivation. Local research initiative Silverplace which is…

Urban food planning in Australia

FFS Publication

Urban food planning in Australia: Enabling and constraining factors

This paper examines urban food planning in Australia and explores enabling and constraining factors in its integration with planning systems

SIFT with David Doepel

Dr James Krahe joined FFS Research Program Deputy Lead David Doepel at Murdoch University to discuss SIFT - Sustainable Innovative Food Technology WA, exploring the opportunities for small businesses emerging from the facility, the potential of High Pressure Processing (HPP) technology, and the power of collaboration. David also shares his personal journey in value-adding, crafting cheese at Melville Park with fellow custodian and partner, Barbara Connell.

Enhancing resilience and efficiency in Australia’s supply chains through optimisation and smart logistics

Enhancing resilience and efficiency in Australia’s supply chains through optimisation and smart logistics

This project focuses on enhancing the food distribution system within the Western Sydney Agribusiness Precinct by leveraging infrastructure investments, digital technologies, and sustainability-focused policies. Through the analysis of best practices and the development of data-driven forecasting models, the research addresses knowledge gaps in logistics planning and transport optimisation. The study incorporates advanced tools for AI-driven logistics and climate-smart agricultural practices, with the goal of reducing bottlenecks and improving supply chain responsiveness.

Energy-efficient wastewater treatment for dairy effluent using passive aeration biofilm technology

Energy-efficient wastewater treatment for dairy effluent using passive aeration biofilm technology

Challenge Cheesemaking, while a value-adding process for dairy farms, generates huge volumes of nutrient-rich wastewater, particularly from whey and wash water. This effluent has high levels of organic pollutants, measured as chemical and biological oxygen demand (COD/BOD), which, if not treated properly, can significantly harm surrounding ecosystems. Traditional wastewater treatment methods are energy-intensive due to…

Mapping the Sunshine Coast and Noosa food and agribusiness ecosystem

Mapping the Sunshine Coast and Noosa food and agribusiness ecosystem

Challenge The agrifood supply chain in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions are facing a series of systemic barriers that limit the growth and resilience of local producers and manufacturers. Key challenges include limited access to funding and grants, complex regulatory compliance, inadequate local packaging and transportation infrastructure, and rising input costs, particularly in labour,…

Mapping the future: Australia’s first national protected cropping dashboard

Mapping the future: Australia’s first national protected cropping dashboard

Australia’s protected cropping sector – encompassing glasshouses, shade houses, polytunnels, and nets – has been rapidly expanding, but until recently, there was no comprehensive, centralised data on the distribution, scale, or types of systems nationwide. This lack of visibility hindered efforts in yield forecasting, infrastructure planning, workforce coordination, disaster response, and biosecurity preparedness.

Food security: Gauging Australian food security with sustainable food consumption

Lijun Summerhayes

FFS text background

Food security: Gauging Australian food security with sustainable food consumption

Australia is one of the most food-secure nations in the world, capable of feeding 75 million people, nearly three times its population. This abundance of food is attributable to the industrialisation of the agri-food system and advanced technologies, which are long assumed to have solved the atavistic challenge of feeding people adequately.

SIFT with Catherine McDaid

Catherine (Cat) McDaid serves as the Quality Assurance Manager at the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre in Western Australia. SIFT is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to fostering innovation within the food and beverage sector by providing businesses with access to advanced manufacturing equipment and expert guidance.

SIFT with Bravo Gazpacho

See how Bravo Gazpacho works with FFS at SIFT WA to produce their top-quality gazpacho, blending tradition with innovation for the perfect taste

SIFT with Everboost

Working together to meet a growing demand. Loic Munso, founder of Everboost Sea Moss is currently utilising SIFT to scale-up production of his Sea Moss products.

Mission MushVroom

Mission MushVroom

Mission MushVroom will be the first study to cultivate and grow mushrooms in space. Oyster mushrooms are the perfect space crop, helping astronauts meet their nutritional needs on long-duration space missions like those to Mars, while closing the loop in plant agriculture and helping to minimise inputs and waste. They are quick to grow, double in size every day, and have nutrients found across food groups, including the unique ability to make vitamin D on UV exposure- the only supplement currently given to astronauts on the International Space Station.

Freight modelling for sustainable future food systems delivery

Freight modelling for sustainable future food systems delivery

Smart, sustainable, resilient food systems require smart, sustainable, resilient transport systems at the location, regional, national and international scale. The development of short-term and long-term transport, land use and infrastructure plans to support such systems is contingent upon effective freight scenario planning, which encompasses potential drivers of change in the freight task and future trends in supply chains, including technology, demographics, climate change energy sources and emissions, and unplanned events. However, collecting accurate freight data poses significant challenges and is often expensive. Existing freight models lack the necessary flexibility to incorporate and reflect dynamic changes due to the nature of one-time data collection. Consequently, these limitations hinder a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of infrastructure and land use plans.

Governance of food relief in Australia: A rights-based approach

Governance of food relief in Australia: A rights-based approach

Taking a solutions-oriented approach, the project aims to reimagine how food relief systems could be better designed to tackle the full range of challenges that contribute to food insecurity. It will explore what a rights-based model of food relief governance might look like in the Australian context. This includes assessing policies, institutional arrangements, and delivery mechanisms to determine whether they promote dignity, sufficiency, and sustainability in food access.

Analyzing the Risk of Short-Term Losses in Free-Range Egg Production Using Commercial Data

Analyzing the Risk of Short-Term Losses in Free-Range Egg Production Using Commercial Data

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of short-term free-range egg production losses using data derived from a combination of sensing technologies and management activities.

How will Australia’s food industry change over the next 10, 20 and 50 years

How will Australia’s food industry change over the next 10, 20 and 50 years

Future Food Systems CEO Dr James Krahe, Research & Commercialisation Director Professor Cordelia Selomulya, and FOODiQ Global CEO Dr Flávia Fayet-Moore discuss the future of food, ecosystems, and value addition at For Food’s Sake in Coffs Harbour with ABC Reporter, Lauren Bohane`

Looking ahead at the future of Australia’s food industry

Looking ahead at the future of Australia’s food industry

ABC Mid and North Coast Rural Reporter, Lauren Bohane talks to CEO, Dr James Krahe about Future Food Systems initiatives and the future of food

National food summit underway in Coffs Harbour

National food summit underway in Coffs Harbour

Alison Paul covers the For Food’s Sake Summit for NBN Mid North News

New technology makes biosecurity responses easier for fruit growers

New technology makes biosecurity responses easier for fruit growers

$1.7 million Australian Tree Crop Map initiative uses mapping app to boost biosecurity for Australian fruit growers. The Australian Tree Crop Map project is delivered through Hort Innovation and led by an expert team at UNE’s Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre (AARSC) in collaboration with Future Food Systems.