Food security Australia's new scientific priority

SYDNEY (Xinhua) - Australian food scientists are planning to ambush the nation's high-profile National Science Week 2014, as science is playing a growing important role in globalized food safety networks at the heart of Australia's critical global food trade.

With Australian agriculturalists ambitiously imagining Australia as the "food bowl of Asia", the issue of food safety throughout the commercialization process is more pressing than ever.

"Science is at the heart of our society, and it will also be at the center of Australia's next round of invention, medical breakthroughs and exciting new products and jobs," Federal Industry Minister Ian McFarlane told Xinhua via email this week.

"The 2014 schools theme for National Science Week is Food for our Future to recognize one of Australia's strongest economic sectors," The minister said.

Last week, the nation's first ever food safety headquarters - the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia-New Zealand held its inaugural conference at the University of Sydney, with food safety the top priority.

The Fresh Produce Safety Centre Ltd., which is funded by the Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA) and the University of Sydney, will focus on ensuring the security of produce and the further education of the horticulture sector to best practice standards.

Sydney's (NSW) Food Authority's Science Week activities involve all school-age students and will include a live online Q&A session (Thursday August 21) with the authority's "rock'n roll" chief scientist Dr Lisa Szabo.

Australia's agriculture potential has been outlined in the federal government's forward estimates as a sector that can shoulder the burden of the mining sector's likely replacement.

But missteps in food production not only stymie economic growth, but also lead to very real human consequences that destroy lives and industries as one.

With this at the forefront of thinking, the food safety center was fast-tracked in Sydney, following global outbreaks that killed consumers around the world and shut down whole sectors of the horticultural industry.

The food center will seek to avoid a series of health scares where contaminated sprouts in Germany and toxic Listeria (fruit- borne) in the United States killed dozens of people in 2011.

University of Sydney Associate Professor Robyn McConchie said the Fresh Produce Safety Centre will look to redress research gaps, with a specific focus on wild animals contamination of food produce here.

"We know what pigs and birds do in Europe and the United States, " McConchie said. "But what about our wildlife?"

"If they tramp through a field of lettuce are they likely to contaminate paddocks? We have different salmonellas to those in Europe and the United States; so how do they survive in the soil? How long do they last? Are they pathogenic and are they going to make us really ill?"

In its 17th year, the week-long celebration of science will see more than 1,500 events held in towns, cities and communities, around the nation where they are expected to attract 1.5 million participants.

Macfarlane said National Science Week gives Australians the opportunity to learn more about many ways science improves our health, benefits our communities and ignites new ways of thinking.

"Science is at the heart of our society, and it will also be at the center of Australia's next round of invention, medical breakthroughs and exciting new products and jobs.

The NSW Food Authority chief scientist said food security was a growing international priority, and one that nations should work together to improve.

"Food begins in the paddock and ultimately ends up on our plate, along that food chain are various points of risk where science is used to identify issues and to strengthen the safety and integrity of that food chain with the ultimate aim of keeping people safe from food poisoning." Szabo said.

To this end, mining magnate and philanthropist Andrew Forrest has begun lending his not unsubstantial weight behind a push to market Australian agricultural produce to China under a single brand.

Last week Forrest, the force behind Fortescue Metals (FMG), has joined forces with three of Asia's leading agri-businesses in what he calls an "unprecedented" 100-year partnership to position Australia as China's food bowl.

The Australia-Sino Hundred Year Agricultural and Food Safety Partnership (otherwise known here as "ASA 100") has the support of Australia's federal and state governments as well as many of the influential farming organizations.