Every year around the world, more than a third of all food that is produced goes to waste.
In Australia, 7.6 million tonnes of food goes to waste every year, costing the economy an estimated $37 billion annually.
This also accounts for about 3 percent of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, and about 2600 gigalitres of water is used to grow this food that is not consumed.
Fruit and vegetables are the most likely to go to waste, accounting for 45 percent of this figure, the equivalent of about 3.7 trillion apples.
Up to 40 percent of edible produce is rejected by suppliers or consumed for being imperfect, while more than 20 percent of fruit and vegetables produced are damaged during the production, processing and transportation stages.
Transporting produce is a tricky business, requiring accurate temperature and climate control, with technological innovations around the packaging of food crucial to address widespread food wastage around the globe.
One such solution to this is the technology being developed by Melbourne-based firm Innofocus, which specialises in ultrafast laser nano-manufacturing machines and holographic imaging equipment development, and micro-optic and photonics devices nano-manufacturing.
The company has developed an innovative electricity-free cooling film which can be used for food preservation and distribution. This film utilises radiative cooling principles, which allows for any covered objects, such as fresh produce, to radiate heat continuously without consuming any electricity.
This can lower the temperature within the film and help to maintain continual freshness during transportation of these goods, helping to reduce the amount of food wastage and spoilage.
Innofocus has also developed spectrum-selective cooling film which can transmit light spectrums that are used in photosynthesis while radiating those that contribute to heat. This tech can be incorporated into greenhouses as an energy-efficient cropping solution that can enhance nutrient efficiency serving to increase the yield and quality of fruit and vegetables.
Innofocus, with its spectrum-selective and electricity-free self-cooling films, is a finalist in the InnovationAus 2024 Award for Excellence categories of Food and AgriTech and Energy and Renewables. The InnovationAus Awards for Excellence winners and finalists will be celebrated at a black-tie gala dinner at The Venue Alexandria in Sydney on Wednesday October 30. You can book your tickets here.
Innofocus launched in Melbourne in 2018, and has been a long-term industry partner of the Australian Research Council and the CRC-P, and has also collaborated with AusTrade, AusIndustry and a number of universities.
The company has also established a 1000 square metre nano-manufacturing plant which features offices, open labs and production lines in Heidelberg West.
This facility features industry-scale 3D laser nano-manufacturing equipment and pilot production lines for its film products.
The electricity-free cooling film has enormous potential in improving the sustainability of food preservation and reducing food wastage that occurs when produce is transported.
And one pilot use of the spectrum-selective cooling film applied to hundreds of square metres of greenhouses observed the growth of strawberries, eggplants, peppers and other vegetables, with positive results.
This test validated the use of the films to increase nutrient and water efficiency while also reducing energy costs.
Looking for brand exposure in front of Australia’s tech ecosystem? Purchase a table of 10 for the InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence and have your logo displayed on screens across the venue and in the event programme as a table sponsor.
The InnovationAus 2024 Awards for Excellence are supported by: 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, 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.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.