Assessing the Regional Impacts of Novel Food Processing Technologies

Background: Understanding the role of novel food processing in adding value to agricultural produce is vital to aid the planning and resource allocation processes and build the sustainability of regional economies. In 2020, Tasmania achieved $5.27 billion in value-adding packaged and processed foods compared to $2.89 billion in primary production value[1]. However, further investing in innovation and the application of novel technologies in the food processing industry could increase the value addition, valorise underutilised fresh produce and leverage its value along the supply chain. New processing technologies are very difficult to imitate, which can increase the competitive advantage of a region such as Tasmania, open new market opportunities and eventually drive economic growth.

Methods: Understanding the impact of technology and innovation on the social and economic aspects of the food industry first requires a thorough understanding of the regional food value chain. This involves analysing the whole farm-to-plate supply chain to identify the points of profitability and who is responsible for controlling the markets and production[2]. Data collected from published governmental and industry reports are used to understand the state of play in Tasmania, the current economic state, and the policy in place to support the project’s aims of exploring how can Tasmania enable new food processing technologies to capture added value.

Findings: Novel food technologies could significantly reduce produce waste, add value to underutilised resources, leverage the Tasmanian brand, and create a sustainable economy in Tasmania.

Conclusions: This paper present a background analysis and an overview of the current state of the Australian and Tasmanian agribusiness and food industries.