Are you an Australian food manufacturer navigating an ever-evolving landscape? The challenges are real, from fragmented supply chains to rapid technological advancements.
While just five percent of Australia’s food manufacturing sector produces 80% of the food, the more than 11,000 small to medium businesses that make up the rest of the sector have few resources to navigate these challenges on their own. And unlike sectors like agriculture, there remains no central body similar to an RDC to collectively unite them on innovative solutions to solve the challenges of today, and plan for the future.
It’s time for food manufacturers to have their say
At AltProteins 25, we’re collaborating with CSIRO to host a forum for food manufacturers of all sizes to have their say about the future of the sector in Australia – and lay the groundwork for addressing shared challenges, together.
The interactive session, “Food Manufacturing 2050: Shaping the Future of Sustainable, Resilient Food Systems”, will be led by CSIRO’s Food and Innovation Network team, who are keen to consult manufacturers as a central part of their Food Manufacturing 2050 initiative.
The initiative’s ambitious goal? To support the sustainability and resilience of Australia’s food manufacturing sector by facilitating the collective design of an R&D and innovation agenda towards 2050.
CSIRO’s work will build on previous inquiries and reports, from Australian Food Story: Feeding the Nation and Beyond to Food for Thought and more. The initiative will develop recommendations for pressing issues, like workforce development around upskilling in AI, and integration of advanced technologies like precision fermentation, to inform a future innovation roadmap. They will then take that agenda to Australian governments at both the federal and state level, with the goal of influencing the upcoming development of the National Food Plan.
How the consultation session works
The session at AltProteins 25 will be the first stop in CSIRO’s listening tour, where their team is prepared to ask the big questions that will inform the R&D and innovation agenda. This is not a talk, a pitch, or even a workshop – it’s a chance for manufacturers across the alternative proteins ecosystem to give direct input by sharing their current challenges and business priorities, as well as their vision for what success looks like in the future. Those who participate in the session at AltProteins 25 will receive a detailed pre-briefing from Food Frontier and CSIRO, so they can come prepared to maximise the conversations.
CSIRO underscores the value in an industry-led approach to inform the R&D projects that will benefit manufacturers’ ongoing transformation and growth. As the Food Manufacturing 2050 initiative coalesces around shared goals for the sector, the Food and Innovation Team leading the initiative will also look to identify with manufacturers opportunities for co-investment. Such financial commitment from the industry will help to identify challenges, implement projects and ultimately leverage Government co-investment.
So why should you join?
The session at AltProteins 25 is your first chance to add your voice to the conversation – and there are a lot of benefits to participating:
- • Direct impact for tailored R&D and workforce agendas: Your input directly guides the future of the Australian food manufacturing sector. Help co-design an R&D agenda and guide workforce development that directly addresses your needs.
• A unified voice: CSIRO is fostering a collaborative environment to hear from manufacturers across the sector and develop collective goals. The result will be a stronger, more coordinated voice to government.
• Future-proofing: In a dynamic and ever-changing landscape, this is your chance to help build a more resilient, sustainable and globally competitive food system, while you also future-proof your own business.
Register for AltProteins 25 and grab your spot in session, before it’s full
Don’t miss this critical opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of your industry.
Ready to join us at AltProteins 25? Register now.