Food Agility CRC to drive the digital transformation of Australia’s food industry

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO has announced funding for the Food Agility CRC.

Following a successful bid by a consortium led by the Knowledge Economy Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), together with QUT and Curtin University, the Food Agility CRC will be funded with $50m over 10 years through the federal government's Cooperative Research Centres program.

"UTS is proud to be working together with the Australian Technology Network of universities and our colleague regional universities on the Food Agility CRC," UTS Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said.

"Australia has one of the most advanced agricultural industries in the world. We look forward to working hand in glove with the food and agricultural sector to advance the sector, and demonstrate how innovation is crucial to providing opportunities and prosperity for all segments of Australian society," Professor Brungs said.

UTS Industry Professor and establishment CEO Dr Mike Briers AO said, "Global food production needs to double by 2050 and the opportunity that presents to the Australian food industry is enormous. Yet we are lagging our international competitors in preparing for a digital future.

"The Food Agility CRC, backed by government, will be an independent, trusted intermediary to accelerate research adoption and commercialisation — including ag tech start-ups — to improve digital services to the sector," Dr Briers said.

The Food Agility bid raised over $160 m in commitments for the proposal and has 54 partners across the food value chain — including 15 technology providers, 11 food production companies, 7 service providers, 7 research providers, 6 regional development agencies, 5 government agencies and 3 industry networks.

"Our unique combination of partners across the value chain will fast-track the digital transformation of Australia's food and agricultural sector," Dr Briers said.

"Food Agility will use contemporary, agile and user-centric design principles, combined with deep engagement with the food sector, to optimise adoption of digital services," Dr Briers said.

Projects currently underway include:

In horticulture:

Food Agility consortium partners are using the Internet of Things to improve the shelf life of bagged lettuce, which is dramatically affected by its water content when harvested. Combining on-farm data with data from processing and retailers optimises those harvesting decisions. Just one day of shelf life dramatically improves yields and reduces food wastage, worth billions to the food industry.

In food export markets:

The CRC is working with the food and agribusiness growth centre Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL) to develop a Market Insights & Information portal which will use real-time information from a number of sources to produce qualitative and quantitative insights to support businesses interested in entering new markets, both domestically and overseas.

In finance:

Food Agility is working to provide viticulturists with better and more timely information so they can benchmark themselves and identify opportunities to improve farming practices, reduce costs and improve the quality and yield of their produce.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Phillip Minnis