The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) has launched a research project to engage and inform the packaging and processing machinery industry of the CRC objectives. The APPMA is a core participant and industry partner of the Fight Food Waste CRC.
The project will also explore and identify opportunities to tackle the food-waste challenge. APPMA is partnering with researchers from RMIT to carry out the research.
The challenge
Equipment manufacturers may not be aware of the critical role they play in reducing food waste. Across the food supply chain, the use of some technologies and processes can result in food waste generation. Harvesting, processing, customising portion sizes, date labelling, and product packaging can all contribute to food wastage. For food producers, the type of packaging and processing machinery available often dictates how effectively resources are used and the volume of food-waste produced.
The APPMA was established in 1983 to promote, integrate, and foster participation and development at all levels of the packaging and processing machinery industry in Australia.
Within the APPMA membership, there is a diverse range of technology and service providers. The research project aims to provide equipment manufacturers with improved knowledge and understanding of food waste challenges, and to understand how this sector can promote better technologies and services to the food industry to reduce or transform food waste.
In isolation, a single initiative will not address the issue at scale; however, driving collaboration across the APPMA with the various packaging providers and processing companies can achieve this.
The plan
The APPMA will drive the involvement of its members in this project to identify and grow best practice in reducing food waste though Australian packaging and processing machinery companies. APPMA members include companies that supply and service machinery across many sectors including dairy, meat, poultry, seafood, confectionery, bakery, fresh produce, and beverages.
The core outputs of the research project will be knowledge and education, opportunity scouting, and capability mapping. The APPMA will promote new ideas around improved machinery designs and features, as well as case studies that illustrate the machinery opportunities to reduce food waste.
This research project will map current APPMA member operations against the capabilities of their technologies and services. Members will receive information on the ideal resource efficiency, packaging and processing, and transformation of food waste through on-farm, processing, and retail stages.
As part of the report, industry surveys and analysis will identify the food waste trends, opportunities, and threats to packaging and processing machinery firms operating in the food industry. Equipment manufacturers will gain improved knowledge and understanding of the food waste challenges and opportunities that will enable them to improve machinery (system) designs and features to combat food waste. APPMA members will be able to take advantage of these new business opportunities to ensure their technologies and services are reducing food waste.
You can find more information on the Fight Food Waste CRC website, and learn about other projects that are also making a difference to tackle food waste in Australia.
