Can Australia's food processing industry feed a growing world population?

I post these articles on a work blog that is rarely used.

Figured I may as well share my time and insight here too with these.

Let me know if it is worth continuing.

AAAAND giving a 50/50 payout on this with my Steemit pals!

How Australia's food processing industry can feed growing world population

With the world population growing every year, the demands on the food processing sector are increasing all the time.

After all, the industry must offer more than high-quality food - the safety and quality of the entire production process is just as vital.

As a result, the Australian food processing sector in particular is increasingly embracing innovative new measures, to ensure demand is met without compromising on standards at any stage.

And it's this willingness to adopt new science-based solutions and reduce their impact on the natural world that has opened new doors for Australian food manufacturers.

Indeed, the sector is becoming increasingly competitive in the global market, playing a crucial role in meeting food needs in many countries.

As BASF, an equipment provider for the food processing sector, notes, Australian food and drink products are challenging local processors to make sure their products meet multiple standards for quality, safety, nutritional value, environmental impact and shelf life.

Greg Catterall, head of manufacturing solutions at BASF in Australia and New Zealand, commented: "With the global population predicted to reach nearly ten billion people by 2050, people will need more nutritious, healthy food all over the world. Australia’s food processing industry will play a key role in meeting this need."

However, the key to meeting demand from other markets is knowing exactly what they want.

Allan Hood, chief executive of dairy firm Bulla, said: "A two-litre tub of ice cream works well in Australia, but this doesn't guarantee success in Asia, where consumers have smaller freezer capacity."

As a result, it pays for food and beverage manufacturers to carry out or at least look at existing market research, in order to be confident of getting their portfolio right and satisfying a demand that actually exists.

Mr Hood believes that hiring people in export destinations can also be hugely advantageous if food and drinks manufacturers are to tap into these markets effectively.

"Companies must invest in home-grown talent which provides local insight about the end consumer and ways of conducting business," he said.

“Thirdly, companies must make bold decisions to secure the right partners in a target market and the brand must be important to them."

China is one potential market that the Australian food manufacturing sector looks set to tap into more heavily in the coming years.

As Phil Crouch, state head of regional business banking for Victoria and Tasmania, noted recently, it represents a "significant export opportunity", with manufactured product exports increasing from $A1.4 billion in 2000 to more than $A8 billion in 2015.

Writing for BlueNotes, he said: "This is expected to grow to $A19 billion per annum by 2030, amounting to cumulative growth of $A75 billion by 2030.

"This forecast is supported by Australia’s proximity to Asia with associated benefits in shipping costs and Asia's rising emerging middle class - expected to grow by more than 20 million each year in China alone."

Mr Crouch went on to acknowledge that the Australian manufacturing sector as a whole has been "tested in recent times", as factors such as high energy costs and skills shortages have put it under pressure.

However, he said the "growing and global appetite for many of our country's natural endowments, such as food" will help to support the sector in the future.

This, he added, means the industry must remain focused on international competitiveness, high-quality products and export opportunities in order to prosper.

Underpinning these priorities with a strong focus on innovation and knowing your target market could be hugely effective in enabling your business to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

As competition in the sector grows, these could ultimately be the key differentiators that determine businesses' fortunes.