The veggie powders combating food waste

Nutri V has launched a range of Australian grown, 100% pure vegetable powder, repurposing imperfect broccoli, cauliflower and pumpkin into shelf-stable powders, giving veggies a new life and offering a solution to everyday meals for families looking to increase vegetable intake.

Raquel Said, Nutri V Chief Executive Officer, explained the powder range was designed to be a solution for people looking to achieve the recommended daily vegetable intake as well as a solution for food waste.

“Between 20% and 30% of vegetables grown in Australia don’t make it to retail stores because they don’t meet specification. We’re converting that slightly imperfect veg into a powder that contains fibre, is ready to use, has no mess or waste and can be added to almost any meal,” she said.

Since launching with CSIRO in 2020, Nutri V has diverted over 200 tonnes of vegetables from landfill and added over a million serves of vegetables into the supply chain. The vegetable powder is the star ingredient of Nutri V Goodies Puffs, which hit Coles Shelves in November 2022.

Dr Pablo Juliano, CSIRO scientist, said, “The Nutri V team is pioneering sustainability solutions in the agrifood sector by delivering vegetable-rich food innovation to the community while also adding value to Australian farmers.”

Each 70 g pack of broccoli powder has the equivalent of 2½ heads of broccoli (approx. 750 g of broccoli) and each 70 g pack of cauliflower powder is the equivalent of 2 heads of cauliflower (approx. 750 g of cauliflower).

Brooke Donnelly, Coles General Manager of Sustainability, said, “This is an excellent example of how we are working with one of our suppliers to develop a circular economy by converting what was previously wasted food into a valuable and convenient product.”

Australian businesses Sonora Foods, an NDIS and Home Care Package meal provider, Able Foods and Qantas’ airport lounges have been early users of the Nutri V innovation and solution by utilising the vegetable powders in their respective applications.

The Nutri V innovation was awarded the Butler Market Gardens Environmental and Sustainability Award at Hort Connections last year, the 2023 Disruptor award in the AU/NZ TMRRW awards and was a finalist in the Victorian Premiers Sustainability Awards.

Nutri V has launched the vegetable powders in Coles stores across Victoria and plans to expand to other states later this year.