The Australian National University (ANU) Agrifood Innovation Institute (AFII) and Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) have released the full program and line-up of speakers for the upcoming Made & Grown: The Future of Food event, taking place in Canberra on 21 August.
As the food system changes, innovation and necessity are driving an evolution of food production, in both new and traditional industries. Australia is well-placed to build on its agricultural reputation to leverage global demand for more protein, functional foods and innovative consumer products.
Through the application of biotechnologies like cell cultivation, precision fermentation, plant molecular farming and synthetic biology, Australia has the potential to capitalise on a multi-billion dollar opportunity and become a global biomanufacturing leader.
Aiming to showcase emerging biotechnologies that can be applied across the food system and support legislators, policymakers, and regulators understanding of the applications and products that are changing how the country can shape a resilient food system, the Made & Grown program features a stacked line-up of industry leaders and experts.
The Future of Food program
Kicking off the morning, the opening session will introduce attendees to the science and technologies covered across the day, and why they are important in securing the future of the Australian economy and food system.
- The Science & Technology of Made & Grown – A presentation and facilitated discussion on the “why” of Made & Grown, the technologies, their application, and the potential, delivered by James Ryall Consulting principal, Dr James Ryall, and CAA head of sector building & advocacy, Victoria Taylor.
- The Role of the Bioeconomy in Securing Australia – A panel exploring the interplay between biotechnology, sovereign capability, and building a larger and more resilient economy. Featuring ANU National Security College head of genes & geopolitics, Dr Dirk van Der Kley, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation investment director, Griff Loughnan, and Australian Strategic Policy Institute deputy director national security programs, Raelene Lockhorst, the panel will also explore how biotechnologies and food production intersect with national security.
Session two will explore current innovations in crop biotechnology, both in producing new products and enhancing climate resilience, while keeping one eye on the future as new technologies emerge.
- Plants as Factories – A facilitated discussion exploring the ways agricultural crops are driving the creation of new, novel and functional ingredients, and how they are being commercialised in agrifood settings. The panel will feature Miruku co-founder & CEO, Amos Palfreyman, CSIRO Future Protein Mission novel production systems lead, Dr Thomas Vanhercke, and Phyllome co-founder & CEO, Sebastien Eckersley-Maslin.
- Re-designing Biology – Membrane Transporter Engineers co-founder, Prof. Caitlin Byrt, ANU Plant Synbio Australia lead, Prof. Barry Pogson, and Australian Wine Research Institute research manager, Simon Schmidt, will discuss the power of synthetic biology to re-design natural systems and disrupt traditional industrial manufacturing.
- Gross ‘Regional’ Product – Main Sequence Ventures partner, Phil Morle, will explore how biotechnology could generate and diversify regional economies, including value-adding to existing agricultural production and supporting the development of new industries.
The third session will dive into the cellular agriculture companies who are already integrating across the Australian food system, reducing production costs, and increasing yield through innovations in advanced biomanufacturing and process design.
- Cell Ag Across the Food System – This panel will discuss how cellular agriculture ingredients and products can be integrated across the food system to boost product performance and supply chain resilience, featuring Nourish Ingredients CEO, Dr James Petrie, All G CSO, Dr Jared Raynes, Eden Brew co-founder & CEO, Jim Fader, Magic Valley founder & CEO, Paul Bevan, and Schellhas Food Technology Consultants principal & owner, Karsten Schellhas.
- Driving Down Costs Through Technical Innovation – As the cellular agriculture sector matures, infrastructure and manufacturing methods are being refined to drive efficiencies. Vow co-founder & CEO, George Peppou, Cauldron Ferm co-founder & CEO, Dr Michele Stansfield, and Queensland University of Technology director research infrastructure operations, Dr Leon Scott, will look at how bioreactors are being redesigned and bioprocesses optimised to drive down CapEx requirements and COGS for key technologies like precision fermentation and cell cultivation.
- Specialisation & the B2B Supply Chain – Opo Bio CEO, Dr Olivia Ogilvie, Rockwell Automation food & beverage industry manager, Glen Jacob, and Eclipse Ingredients founder & CEO, Siobhan Coster, will showcase the breadth of the ecosystem in Australia but also the role specialist suppliers will play in supporting the scale and commercial viability of cellular agriculture products.
The final session of the day will explore the policy, research and financial settings required to realise Australia's regional advantage and build sovereign capability in food biomanufacturing and the bioeconomy.
- Australia’s Regional Competitiveness – A presentation on the findings from a brand new GFI APAC study that examines the competitiveness of key APAC countries, including Australia, Thailand and Vietnam, to be commercial food biomanufacturing hubs. The Good Food Institute APAC senior SciTech analyst, Dr Dean Powell, will highlight what Australia needs to do to position itself as a regional or global leader in the future of food biomanufacturing.
- Who pays? Public vs Private – National Reconstruction Fund Corporation chair, Martijn Wilder, will look at the support, signals and finance mechanisms needed to enable Australia to position itself as a leader in biomanufacturing and build economic growth and resilience as a result.
Panels will be moderated by AFII director, Prof. Owen Atkin, CAA CEO, Dr Sam Perkins, Venture Affairs founder & director, Nicholas Chilton, and CAA COO, Joanne Tunna.
The main program will take place 9am-5pm 21 August, with networking opportunities from 5-6pm, at ANU, Canberra. Head to agrifood.anu.edu.au for more information and to register attendance – this is an event not to be missed.
