Submission - Food and Beverage Manufacturing

In 2024, CAA made a submission to the Federal inquiry into Food & Beverage Manufacturing in Australia, which examined the post-farm gate opportunities for innovation and to add value to our food system.

We're pleased to see the Committee’s final report has now been released, and explicitly recognise cultivated meat, precision fermentation, and the significant value of biomanufacturing for the future of Australia’s food sector.

Relevant inclusions relating to the cellular agriculture and future foods include:

• Biomanufacturing as a growth driver: The report acknowledges the importance of Australia’s biomanufacturing capabilities in supporting the evolving food and beverage industry.
• Targeted support for novel foods: The Committee recommends the identification of opportunities for targeted support for the emerging novel food and beverage industry. This aligns with CAA’s submission and crucial for scaling the cellular agriculture sector.‍
• National Food Plan: The recommendation for a National Food Plan highlights a strategic approach to building a resilient, future-proof and diversified food system.‍
• Regulatory challenges: The report made note of CAA’s concerns around the cost of FSANZ approval as a barrier to innovation, the need for greater FSANZ funding, and the importance of international regulatory harmonisation. However, no recommendations were made due to the ongoing FSANZ Act Review.

Taken together, the report highlights the role of biomanufacturing as a mechanism for scaling future food technologies, including cellular agriculture - which will act as a critical input into a National Food Plan. This has the potential to future-proof and strengthen Australia’s food manufacturing industry and build a diverse and resilient bioeconomy.

Read the full Committee Report: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportrep/RB000386/toc_pdf/FoodforThought.pdf