Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL) has appointed Genevieve Bateman as General Manager of Food Sustainability, a newly created position to support the implementation of Australia’s National Food Waste Strategy.
Managing Director of FIAL Dr Mirjana Prica said that Ms Bateman will bring tremendous experience and proven success at delivering significant government initiatives to the issues of food waste.
Related stories:
- Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre launches
- Food waste compost combats NSW weeds
- National Food Waste Strategy Steering Committee appointed
“Ms Bateman will lead the implementation of the National Food Waste Strategy and work with industry, business and government across the food supply chain to find collaborative solutions to the food waste problem which costs the Australian economy $20 billion per year,” Dr Prica said.
“Ms Bateman’s career spanning both the public service and private sector will be an asset to FIAL and her enthusiasm and passion will be instrumental in delivering this exciting initiative.”
One of the key roles of General Manager of Food Sustainability is to identify short, medium and long-term outcomes to deliver the strategy and reach FIAL’s 2030 target.
“FIAL is also delighted to announce a call for innovative projects that encourage collaboration between small and large businesses in the food and agribusiness sector, to lift productivity and competitiveness,” Dr Prica said.
“We will match funding of over $100,000 and up to $1 million to help industry and agribusiness solve an innovation challenge. Projects that involve and benefit multiple businesses across the sector will be viewed more favourably for funding.
Now that Ms Bateman has joined us, FIAL’s attention will turn to working hard on the four key areas of the National Food Waste Strategy: policy support, business improvements, market development and behaviour change,” she said.
The National Food Waste Strategy is part of the Australian Government’s election commitment to halve Australia’s food waste by 2030.
Dr Prica said she was delighted to see the recent increase in funding for food waste following the Australian Government’s announcement of $30 million in funding for the Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to tackle food waste insecurity.
“This decision builds on the $1.37 million already contributed by the Australian Government and states and territories towards eliminating food waste. I look forward to working with the new CRC,” Dr Prica said.