Australia is world-renowned for some of the best produce in the world and it’s a reputation we should all be proud of and on which our national economy is heavily-reliant. So, a new report released by AgriFutures Australia makes for somewhat sobering reading, outlining the impacts of product fraud, which has a cost of between $2-3 billion each year. An astonishing amount and one which must have us all thinking about the enormous implications and, most importantly, what can be done to combat the issue.
AgriFutures commissioned the research from Deakin University, which confirmed that it’s producers and businesses who stand to lose the most through lower returns and risks to brand reputation. Also troubling is the fact researchers found product fraud is on the rise and Australia’s reputation for high-quality products is already suffering.
The report also emphasised the opportunities, and potential solutions and actions, for operators, stressing that a coordinated supply chain approach is key and highlighting measures with a focus on early detection and prevention, such as authenticity testing. This kind of technology has certainly come a long way, and Oritain is one company taking scientific verification of origin to new levels, measuring the natural properties of red meat to determine where it has come from. Oritain can effectively sample Australian beef or lamb from any global market, and through their system determine which region in Australia the product is from. It’s an ‘origin fingerprint’ unable to be replicated.
These ‘fingerprints’ for Australian beef and lamb give our meat industry the capability of verifying and authenticating their red meat products anywhere in supply chains – both domestically and globally. Rather than relying on packaging or a paper trail for traceability, Oritain tests the product itself at any point in the supply chain, with a small sample and with no changes required to the manufacturing process. On top of the obvious benefit of verifying authenticity, this kind of testing allows the red meat sector to demonstrate a commitment to quality, safety and transparency which gives additional confidence to stakeholders and consumers.
It’s exciting technology with the potential to turn around the current staggering losses from food fraud and return the ownership of arguably the best products in the world to the producers and businesses responsible for them. Of course, it’s an enormous win for consumers too, because we who are keen to support our local industries and want to enjoy the highest quality meat products can rest assured we’re getting what we pay for, and not an inferior imitation.
It’s a critical time for our primary industries, with consumers taking a keener interest than ever in the ‘footprint’ of their produce, wanting to support their local industries and wanting to know what they’re consuming is indeed being produced locally. It seems the pandemic has fostered more of a consumer interest in provenance, and an increasing acknowledgement of protecting our fragile environment also means more of us would like what we consume to come from closer to home.
What we must always remember is our reputation for the best primary produce in the world has been hard-earned, but unfortunately can be so easily damaged should consumers – and investors in agriculture – start to doubt the veracity of their food and fibre. It’s in not only our own personal interest, but in the national interest as well, to get on the front foot and put in place integrity systems that keep us a step ahead of our competitors and ensure Australian-made produce remains the gold standard for safety, quality, and authenticity.
Robbie’s column is on The Land website at https://www.theland.com.au/story/7601697/how-we-can-fight-back-on-food-fraud/