Casting the net wide for innovative practical solutions to food loss and waste is the foundation for the country’s inaugural Food Waste Challenge.
Launched by food and ag accelerator, Rocket Seeder, on Friday evening (15 March), founder and CEO Emma Coath said the challenge was aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve food loss and waste by 2030 to find innovators solving the most pressing food waste issues.
“SDG 12.3 and Australia's own target is to halve food waste by 2030. With the clock ticking, the challenge is putting the call out to the entire business sector that if you have a solution with a minimal viable product, we want to hear about it.
“Innovation can come from anywhere. We work with entrepreneurs every day and have seen that practices in other sectors can be applied to solve issues in others and have a real impact,” Coath said at the launch, which was held at the Melbourne based food systems social enterprise, Streat.
Food & Drink Business editor, Kim Berry, chaired a panel with Rocket Seeder program manager, Claire Dyason, Empauer CEO, Victor Barichello, and End Food Waste Australia Innovation manager, Jonathan Middis looking at what is needed to accelerate the application of food waste and loss solutions in the marketplace.
Barichello highlighted the need for a mindset shift away from thinking loss and waste are “just a part of business”, emphasising the need for data so companies have a true understanding of how much it is costing the business.
Dyason, drawing on extensive experience in the red meat industry, said solutions need to take into account the multitude of frameworks already in place within some sectors, and reiterated the importance of data to build knowledge around where key waste points are.
“There are many and varied solutions, there is no silver bullet, more a bucket of silver buckshot,” Middis said.
Middis also updated the gathering with upcoming campaigns by End Food Waste Australia, and urged companies to ask questions and contact the organisation for ideas and advice on how it could start reducing its food waste issues.
The challenge categories
- Upcycled Food
- Food Rescue
- Bread and Bakery
- Horticulture
- Meat
- Dairy
- Seafood
- Sustainable packaging
- Supply chain innovation
- Pre-farm gate solutions
- In-home solutions
- Retail
- Hospitality / Food Service
Coath said, “We’re looking for ideas to solve challenges in all parts of the value chain, from pre-farm gate, to household, industry, and commercial food waste. Entries will be judged, and the winners announced at the National Food Waste Summit on 24-25 July.”
Category sponsorships are still available for organisations keen to be involved. Sponsors have the benefit of direct access to applicants and innovations to enhance their own sustainability journeys and be part of the national conversation on Food Loss and Waste.
For more information click here, or contact Program Manager Claire Dyason.
