Innovation stations: 2021 Agrifood Award

11th June 2021 | Eativity editors

A new way to flavour-bomb plant-based meat products and smarter farming systems that can thrive through drought were among the innovations recognised at the annual awards of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). The awards recognise outstanding senior and emerging innovators in research and development (R&D). Each year, ATSE’s prestigious ICM Agrifood Award is bestowed on two applied scientists who’ve made significant contributions to the agricultural sector. The 2021 winners are…

2021 Agrifood Award winner Dr Anna El-Tahchy
Dr El-Tahchy is leading efforts to revolutionise the flavour and sustainability of plant-based food.

Dr Anna El-Tahchy

Chief Technical Officer at Nourish Ingredients, a spin-off company from the CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food business unit, Dr El-Tahchy is working at the helm of efforts to improve the flavour and sustainability of plant-based meat substitute food products.

Dr El-Tahchy has been leading a team of scientists at Nourish Ingredients to create animal-free fats that make plant-based meat alternatives taste better. They’re also healthier and more sustainable than palm and coconut oils, which are traditionally used in meat alternatives. The key to the technology is a special fermentation process.

“The texture is exactly what we need to supplement these proteins without having to overload the products,” she explains. “So, there’ll be fewer carbs and better taste.”

2021 Agrifood Award winner Dr Lindsay Bell
Dr Bell also recently won the Grains Research and Development Corporation Seed of Light award.

Dr Lindsay Bell

Farming Systems Scientist at CSIRO, Dr Bell is helping dryland crop and livestock farmers manage climate variability. His research focuses on redesigning cropping systems and reintegrating crops and livestock to more efficiently use highly variable rainfall to increase profitability and reduce losses during droughts. He was instrumental in developing dual-purpose canola that works both as a crop and a feedstock. He’s also designed protocols to help farmers graze crops at a time that reduces the risk of yield losses.

“Growing up on a farm in western Queensland, I have first-hand experience with many of the challenges facing agriculture,” he says. “This has driven me to try to identify practices, technology and markets that help farmers become more viable in the short and long term.”

Changing the way we see food: innovations in agtech are making plant-based choices tastier and healthier.

Advance Australia’s strengths

ATSE President Professor Hugh Bradlow says that the Agrifood Award recognises the vital role of R&D in advancing Australia’s strength as an agricultural powerhouse.

“These two individuals are substantially improving the food sector in Australia,” he says. “The work being conducted by Dr El-Tahchy has the potential to change the way people view plant-based alternatives, whether they be vegans, vegetarians or lovers of meat.

“And Dr Bell is helping farmers work smarter to deal with Australia’s variable climate conditions and the increasing severity of droughts.”

To view the full list of the 2021 ATSE Awards winners, head to atse.org.au