The West Australian government has launched its Post Harvest Food Waste Transformation project, assisting small to medium-sized businesses in quantifying and reducing their food waste to reduce landfill.
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre and its delivery partner Curtin University.
The state government has invested $320,000, and End Food Waste Cooperative has committed $370,000 to the project, which will also identify waste hotspots within the Western Australian food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Western Australian Agriculture and Food Minister, Jackie Jarvis, said that the project will help small to medium-sized businesses remain internationally competitive, by improving their environmental, social and governance credentials.
“With food waste costing the Australian economy about $36.6 billion each year, our government is working alongside local businesses to develop innovative solutions that reduce waste, boost business and grow this important sector,” said Jarvis.
“I look forward to seeing the innovative solutions to come from the Post Harvest Food Waste Transformation project and how they benefit local businesses.”
Three businesses have initially signed up to map their waste streams, with further businesses expected to join in coming months. The companies are Bassendean-based ready-made meal company Fresh Frontier, Carnarvon-based Sweeter Banana Co-Operative, and Avena Mills in the Wheatbelt. They plan to use the research to extend existing product lines, and identify and quantify new product development options using what would previously be thrown away.
Further information is available online at agric.wa.gov.au, where industry producers, manufacturers and representative organisations from within the food and beverage supply chain who wish to be involved in this project can also register their interest.
