Right on TECH

THE world’s agrifood thought leaders, venture capitalists and organisations converged on Perth in late-February as part of the Asia Pacific’s premier agtech event EvokeAG. This cross-sector, international event featured a strong line-up of speakers and networking events across two days. vegetablesWA RDOs Chi Nguyen and Katrina Hill were among the attendees. Chi said his primary interest was in farm waste and value adding.

“Technology plays a crucial role in averting waste and paving the way for the agrifood supply chain to transition from waste to value creation. The opportunities are ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality products and securing a premium,” he says.

Here, Chi pulls together the information he gleaned from a presentation by Abi Ramanan on How Agrifood Tech can Digitise Food Supply Chains and Reduce Food Waste.

With a third of the world’s food going to waste each year and concerns about food fraud in the industry, there’s a pressing need for smart solutions. Cutting-edge technology, particularly hyperspectral imaging, can be a game-changer for growers by providing real-time information to improve processes. This technology can give a super detailed look at our crops. It’s like having a high-tech pair of glasses for our fields. This technology, born from NASA’s space exploration, is now stepping into our farms to make a positive impact.

A real-life example is Impact Vision’s hyperspectral imaging applications, which are pretty cool and practical. The technology provides real-time information about crops’ quality, freshness and even spots contaminants. Imagine being able to detect contaminants in your processing or optimise the ripening of your produce without cutting them open. This technology is all about giving more information at every step so we can make better choices. Were there challenges in adopting this technology? Yes. Not having enough information available or figuring out how to fit it into an existing system were issues. However, these challenges were overcome.

WHO Jim Trandos, the managing director of Trandos Farms, carries on a remarkable third-generation vegetable-growing legacy in Western Australia. Celebrating 85 years in business, Trandos Farms operates from four locations – Neerabup, Gingin, Beermullah and Broome – strategically spread 2000km apart, ensuring a year-round supply of produce. Trandos Farms is the largest grower of sweet corn and beans in WA, supplying major supermarket chains nationwide. For about 15 years, Trandos has exported produce to various countries, with plans for future expansion.

WHAT Trandos Farms has created a closed-loop economy, utilising green waste from corn leaves in their Gingin-based cattle farm. It also implemented a new packing system seven years ago, removing almost all trays, contributing to an 85 per cent reduction in plastic use per pack. Collaborating with agronomists, chemical applications were also reduced across crops, with the farm instead employing biological methods, such as predatory insects. The installation of solar panels and energy-efficient facilities a decade ago also reflect the company's sustained commitment to practical energy-efficient measures. Recently, the company also initiated its first carbon regeneration project in Gingin and Beermullah. Trandos Farms continues to explore innovative ways to operate sustainably and efficiently across its operations.