Melbourne-based tech company Innofocus has won the Food and AgriTech category at the InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence for its sustainable farm-to-fork solutions aiming to reduce food wastage.
The InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence were presented at a black-tie gala dinner at The Venue Alexandria in Sydney on Wednesday night.
The Food and AgriTech Award was presented on the night by Shadow Minister for Science, Arts, Government Services and the Digital Economy Paul Fletcher.
Innofocus was awarded the top prize in the Food and AgriTech category for its novel technologies used to assist with the transportation of fresh produce and improving the energy efficiency of crops.
Innofocus specialises in ultrafast laser nanomanufacturing machines and holographic imaging equipment development, and micro-optic and photonics devices nano-manufacturing.
It has developed a number of new cooling films for use in growing and preserving fresh produce.
Its innovative electricity-free cooling film is used for food preservation and distribution, helping to maintain the continued freshness of these goods while they are being transported.
This is done through the use of radiative cooling principles, allowing the covered produce to radiate heat continuously without consuming any electricity.
This helps to address one of the key issues behind why about 7.6 million tonnes of food goes to waste each year in Australia, with fruit and vegetables accounting for the bulk of this figure.
About 40 per cent of edible products are rejected by suppliers or consumers for being visually imperfect, while 20 per cent of fresh produce are damaged during the production, processing and transportation stages.
This process of transporting fresh produce is complex and requires strict climate control, and the Innofocus solutions aims to address this and ensure less produce goes to waste.
The company has also developed spectrum-selective cooling film which transmits light spectrums that are used in photosynthesis while radiating those that contribute to heat.
This can enhance nutrient efficiency and lead to a boost in the yield and quality of fruit and vegetables when incorporated into greenhouses.
Innofocus launched in Melbourne in 2018 and is an industry partner of the Australian Research Council and the CRC-P. It has also collaborated with AusTrade, AusIndustry and a number of Australian universities.
Innofocus boasts a 1000 square metre nanomanufacturing plant featuring offices, open labs and production lines.
The other finalists in the Food and AgriTech Award category were the Edith Cowan University, Refilled and Southern Ocean Subsea.
The InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence are supported by the Australian Computer Society, Investment NSW, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Technology Council of Australia, TechnologyOne, National Artificial Intelligence Centre, CSIRO’s ON Innovation Program, Reason Group, Q-CTRL, University of New South Wales, South by South-West Sydney and IP Australia.
Protecting your great ideas with intellectual property (IP) rights can lead to lasting benefits for your growing business. IP refers to creations of the mind, such as a brand, logo, invention, design or artistic work. Head to the IP Australia website to find out more about IP, and how it might help your business.
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