Australia’s fresh food supply chain is in the spotlight and Food Agility’s latest blog explores how innovative technologies can make production more sustainable while delivering benefits to consumers.
Amid the cost-of-living crisis and claims of price gouging there’s scrutiny of supermarket competition and the difference between farm-gate and check-out prices. We’ve also seen the impact of Queensland cyclones and Victorian storms on the quality and supply of fresh produce – think blemished bananas and the decimation of the Goulburn Valley’s stone fruit crop.
Against this backdrop, the consumer’s relationship with food and how it gets to the plate is front and centre.
“Food Agility works with industry partners throughout agrifood supply chains using data and digital technologies to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability,” said Food Agility Chief Executive Officer Dr Mick Schaefer.
“This includes developing and road-testing new technologies to help producers manage production to meet market demand and ensuring that fresh produce meets specifications.”
Innovative technologies in the supply chain
Supply and production planning in fresh produce systems is complex, especially when there’s variables like changing weather patterns. Food Agility-backed projects are tackling this challenge.
In partnership with Mulgowie Farming Company and leading researchers from QUT, a recently-completed project developed an accurate predictive model to predict the harvest timing, yield and quality of green bean production. This has helped the Company and the green bean industry make better production and sales decisions.
Other research tested sensor technologies for summerfruit like peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots. Being able to reliably measure the fruit maturity and quality prior to harvest is a game-changer ensuring Australian growers can deliver quality products to competitive export markets.
Traceability throughout the cherry and potato supply chain was the focus of another pilot program. It used GS1 data standards to create a digital map of properties and the movement of products. Trials demonstrated the system can be used to recall products within 60 seconds. The system also has potential to be a framework for electronic certification to boost market access and cut compliance costs for growers, along with providing an opportunity for customer engagement.
From providing tools to aid decision making in avocado, kiwifruit, wine grape and shellfish production systems to tracking fish from bait to plate – digital technologies are delivering benefits for producers but also the people consuming these products.
Building consumer connections with food
Dr Schaefer said consumers also want to know more about where their food comes from and that it’s produced in an ethical and sustainable way.
“Australia has a reputation for clean, green and safe food production but there’s growing demand to be able to verify this throughout supply chains,” he said. “Data sharing and new technologies will be crucial in delivering this to maintain market access and meet consumer needs.”
It’s a focus for Food Agility’s work with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on AgTrace Australia and in projects like Pig Welfare and Pork Provenance, which is using revolutionary ear tags to track pigs in commercial piggeries in real time. Another project will develop a fully automated visual surveillance system using AI technologies to animal health and welfare in cattle feedlots.
Given the rising costs of food in the supermarket it’s also timely to think a project showing how communities can work together to transform their food systems. Yarrabilba, a Lendlease residential community in southeast Queensland, trialled Australia’s first circular food economy combining digitally integrated urban agriculture with community composting incentives. The team from QUT and Lendlease created a framework for collecting kitchen waste, making compost, and growing food with an app to track food waste and monitor the quality of the compost.
Some food for thought next time you’re at the supermarket, Farmer’s market, or even in your veggie patch.
