CSIRO launches $150 million food industry missions

CSIRO has launched three of what it calls ‘missions’ that will tackle food production issues, including developing new processed food export opportunities.

The three missions will tackle drought, the food export market and growing the protein market.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said the three missions together aim to capture a $20 billion opportunity for Australian agriculture to extend its position as a world leader.

Dr Marshall said: “For over a century, CSIRO has been working with farmers and governments to improve life on this great land.

“But today we’re bringing all of our newest science and technology, from Artificial Intelligence to genetics and smart materials, to bear on overcoming our oldest national challenge – drought.”

Of most interest tro manufacturers are missions two and three:

• Trusted Agrifood Exports. Australia can increase the value of its agrifood exports such as our horticulture and beef products by $10 billion by 2030. The mission will improve access to high-value markets through new isotopic fingerprinting tools that can support proof of origin for food and verify its clean and green credentials. The mission will also reduce the cost of meeting export requirements through new automated systems that use sensors and other remote technologies.
• And future Protein. There is a $10 billion opportunity for Australia’s growers and producers to create the future protein for the world’s growing population. The mission will protect and grow existing livestock and aquaculture industries, develop new plant-based products and use new technologies, such as biomanufacturing to create new proteins or even transform waste products into high value food products.

The Future Protein Mission brings together CSIRO with government researchers, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Grains Research & Development Corporation along with industry partners v2food, GrainCorp, Ridley, Clara Foods, Wide Open Agriculture and start-ups such as Eden Brew.

Picture: CSIRO

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