The Times Australia
Small Business News

.
Times Media

.

Fighting food fraud necessary to protect Brand Australia

  • Written by David Sly


PwC reports that globally food fraud costs the food industry over $50 billion each year. It is a growing but largely unspoken menace and Australia is not immune. Brand Australia is being hijacked by unscrupulous operators who are counterfeiting our local food and wine products in overseas markets. The overall cost to Australian exporters is unknown although likely in the billions and mostly affecting dairy, wine, meat, horticulture and seafood exports.

 

“The scale of what we are dealing with is horrific. Fraud is one of the top 10 industries in the world – similar to narcotics as a gigantic global business that can’t be ignored,” says Mr Al Jawhari, Chief Technology Officer with Beston Global Food Group in Adelaide, which has developed innovative anti-counterfeiting and traceability products to prove the provenance authenticity of its premium foods. “With so much money being generated by food fraud, it means that counterfeiters approach what they do with huge financial investment and sophistication of technology. It’s a race to see who stays ahead of the game.”

 

Mr Jawhari will lead a team of industry technologists and research partners within the proposed Fight Food Waste and Fraud CRC partnership to develop new and improved traceability integration and anti-counterfeit products, expanding the range and methods by which Australian food and wine products can be protected from fraud.

 

Mr Jawhari also sees new food industry anti-fraud technology playing a leading role in innovations that other industries can follow – especially pharmaceuticals, textiles and fashion. “The CRC will allow the freedom of cross-industry communication to share ideas and innovations that keep everyone ahead in the technological race to usurp counterfeiters and their ever-changing adaptations.”

 

“We need to be able to clearly identify what food or wine is in the package – not just to have distinctive packaging, but to prove the integrity of the ingredients inside, to ensure the credibility and value of our premium goods,” says Mr Jawhari. “The proposed CRC will be the research & development driver for this technological advance, which will be crucial if Australia’s food and wine industries are going to remain a decisive step ahead of international counterfeiters.”

 

The Times Features

Amazon Australia and DoorDash announce two-year DashPass offer only for Prime members

New and existing Prime members in Australia can enjoy a two-year membership to DashPass for free, and gain access to AU$0 delivery fees on eligible DoorDash orders New offer co...

6 things to do if your child’s weight is beyond the ideal range – and 1 thing to avoid

One of the more significant challenges we face as parents is making sure our kids are growing at a healthy rate. To manage this, we take them for regular check-ups with our GP...

Joykids Australia Presents the Joykids Family Rave: A Weekend Adventure Like No Other

Get ready to kick off the first day of summer and the festive season with an unforgettable family adventure! Joykids Australia is excited to announce the Joykids Family Rave—an...

New study suggests weight loss drugs like Ozempic could help with knee pain. Here’s why there may be a link

The drug semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, was originally developed[1] to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. How...

Maintaining Your Pool After a Marble Interior Upgrade

After upgrading your pool with a marble interior, it’s crucial to understand that maintenance is key to preserving its elegance and longevity. You’ll want to regularly skim for d...

Labor using explanatory document to hide true powers of Misinformation Bill

The opinions and commentary of individuals could be deemed misinformation under Labor’s proposed legislation changes, according to James McComish of Victorian Bar. Appearing in...

Business Times

Protecting Your Business from Cyber Threats: The Critical Role of…

In today’s digital world, cybersecurity threats pose a significant risk to businesses of all sizes. A data breach can lead ...

Kyndryl ANZ appoints new Head of Strategic Partnerships and Allia…

Former Head of Marketing to lead and grow Kyndryl’s local channel ecosystem and bolster technological capabilities Kyndr...

Copyrighting Your Work in Australia

As the digital world evolves, it's more important than ever for creators and businesses to know how to protect their intellec...