Forum

Impact Forum: Food Innovation

Date: Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (NSW Time)
Location: Lismore Campus

Event cost:: $39 each or group discount

Grow, sell, innovate. Join the conversation about the future of food innovation at the Southern Cross University Impact Forum.

Southern Cross University is pleased to announce our second Impact Forum event on the future of food innovation. The Impact Forum will bring together leading voices from research, government, industry and community to share knowledge, build new connections and accelerate innovation.

Through keynote presentations, panel discussions and deep dive sessions, the forum will explore topics such as food security, opening new markets, industry growth, food waste, Indigenous knowledge, sustainable production and product diversification.

Learn more about Southern Cross University research into the sustainable production of functional foods and natural products. From growing Australia’s coffee industry to sustainable and profitable beekeeping, our research aims to add value for both producers and consumers.

The forum is for businesses, producers, local government, industry bodies and anyone interested in these areas.

Program to be announced soon.

This initiative is supported by the NSW Government's Boosting Business Innovation Program (Investment NSW).

Lunch and refreshments included in ticket price.

Book now

Where to find us

Location: Southern Cross University, Northern Rivers Campus Military Rd, East Lismore NSW 2480

Located in the heart of the Northern Rivers, our Lismore campus is a teaching and research hub. From the ancient forests that surround us to the beating heart of culture within, studying with Southern Cross University in the Northern Rivers is an experience like no other.

Find out more

Harvest to Health

The Harvest to Health research cluster conducts fundamental and applied research to enhance the sustainable production of functional foods and natural products to assess their potential to optimise human health and reduce the risk of disease. Their research contributes to better health for natural resources, people and communities, adding value for producers and consumers.

Impact Forum 2023

Taking place in May 2023, the first Impact Forum brought together leading voices to accelerate the development and adoption of circular economy solutions and facilitate new industry connections for businesses. Topics included the national state of circularity, the role of technology in designing for circularity, barriers and technical solutions to creating a local circular economy, navigating policy, legislation and funding and the business of waste.

Research Clusters

The protection of our planet requires transformative research. Our research impact clusters identify four areas of urgent need: Harvest to Health, ZeroWaste, Reefs and Oceans & Catchments, Coasts and Communities. By optimising ideas, projects, facilities and resources; targeting existing and potential areas of need; and enabling interconnected and multidisciplinary relationships, our clusters represent a targeted approach to a common goal – a better, safer, more sustainable world.

Bee Lab takes flight at Southern Cross Uni

A new Bee Research and Extension Lab launched today at Southern Cross University. It will undertake critical honey bee research and extension, with a focus on managing the devastating Varroa destructor mite. Despite the largest biosecurity response in Australia’s history, Varroa continues to pose one of the biggest threats to Australia’s beekeeping and pollination-dependent industries. Around one third of our food comes from crops pollinated by bees.

Two beekeepers examine a bee hive in a field

Growing Australia's coffee industry

About one per cent of the coffee we drink in Australia is grown here, despite several suitable climates zones. With 99 per cent of total coffee consumption from imported beans, mostly from South America, Australia’s caffeine love affair racks up some serious food miles, a significant driver of climate change. Southern Cross researchers are on a mission to change that, and to shrink the journey from plant to cup, while supporting the development of a sustainable, commercially viable industry.

The Conversation: Growing your own food and foraging can help tackle your ballooning grocery bill. Here’s how

Up to 3.7 million Australian households have been hit by food insecurity this year – many for the first time. Of these households, four in five say the reason is the rising cost of living, as interest rate rises and many other cost increases force them to make unwelcome trade-offs – such as food. These figures come from a new hunger survey from Foodbank, which found almost half of us now feel anxious about putting food on the table or struggle to access food consistently.