The challenge
Evidence-based verification to back Australian produce
Demand for independent, evidence-based food and fibre credentialling is needed in order to high-value markets, such as Europe.
Isotopes are unique chemical signals found in food and the environment that can provide accurate information about food production characteristics and environmental factors such as soil nutrients and groundwater flows. This data can be used as evidence to verify credentials, such as how sustainable a product is, to improve Australia's access to overseas markets.
Australia's public research organisations have vast amounts of isotopic data. But this data is often disparate and siloed. Connecting these databases is key to supporting Australian agriculture, water and food systems to continually support research and commercial outcomes for Australia.
Our response
Leveraging isotopes across the supply chain
We've created Isotopes.au - a reliable and trusted national data resource - which can be used by regulators and industry to verify a food’s provenance and sustainability claims and ensure compliance with trade regulations.
Isotopes.au was developed in collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Geoscience Australia and the National Measurement Institute (NMI). The collaboration received co-investment from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC).
The platform connects environmental data sets and insights from across the supply chain to support food product verification and credentialing.
Leveraging this isotopic data platform will also support Australian product evaluations in terms of yield, quality and management practices and sustainability factors.
The results
Informing the origin of agriculture and food products
Isotopic data serves as objective, quantifiable evidence that can be trusted by regulators and the public.
The platform's development was informed by FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles to ensure it is accessible and trusted. As a verification tool, it can inform the geographical origins for agricultural and food products, including the way they were grown, a key factor in commodity trade.
Researchers can also utilise this isotopic data platform to drive the development of standards for reuse and recycling purposes, facilitating decisions in food reuse and improving sustainability.
Realising the potential of digital technologies to transform the food system requires collaboration. The future is not just collecting data, but creating shared benefits for public good research and commercial outcomes. Industry, peak bodies, universities and other research organisations have informed Isotopes.au's development, ensuring it's relevant, accessible and serves the needs of different sectors.
Isotopes.au will continue to be expanded with more data.
Find out more at: Connecting/Federating Stable Isotopic Data Resources or access the tool.