Australia’s largest fruit and vegetable grower, Costa has officially joined the Agtech and Logistics Hub’s Open Innovation Challenge.

Costa will be part of the assessment panel and provide grower feedback to participants involved in the challenge which aims to reduce inorganic waste in the horticulture industry.

Costa is proud to support the initiative, which has a particular focus on reducing plastics – a major contributor of waste in the sector.

“Reducing waste across our supply chain is one of Costa’s key priorities, in recognition of not only the environmental and economic benefits that can be achieved, but also the policy settings of governments, and the expectations of our customers and consumers,” COSTA Group CEO Sean Hallahan said.

“Plastic has been identified as a major waste stream across our operations, from single use packaging to pots and irrigation lines. Identifying innovative new solutions that can reduce our waste and provide new options for a circular economy will be a game changer not only for our operations, but the horticulture industry more broadly.”

There are 72 innovators, from companies to researchers, involved in the Open Innovation Challenge.

Technology that can convert plastic into usable fuels is among the cutting-edge innovations that have been presented.

Statistics show that plastic is a huge contributor of waste, with Australian agriculture consuming an estimated 90,000 tonnes of it each year with only seven percent recycled.

While the sector has been focused on improving sustainability practices, the reality is that Australian producers have few commercially viable alternatives to the heavy use of plastics on farm and single-use plastics in consumer packaging.

A pressing priority for the sector is to provide alternatives to the use and management of plastics across its supply chains.

That’s why the Agtech and Logistics Hub is running the Open Innovation Challenge.

Agtech and Logistics Hub Director Thomas Hall said he was confident that the challenge would produce a viable solution to bring down the amount of inorganic waste used in the horticulture sector.

“A number of those involved in the challenge have presented some amazing innovations, which are now being assessed,” Mr Hall said.

These innovations include:

• • Plastic Pirates technology of mobile pyrolysis plants that can convert most types of plastic into usable fuels
  • Arable Field Research’s new option for moisture retention and weed control to replace existing plastic film and mulch used as bed covers in agriculture
  • Novum Energy’s Thermo-Vacuum Recovery (TVR) technology whereby rubber, such as tyres and conveyer belts, and plastics are converted into clean, carbon credit-worthy, saleable, low emission products.

Jesse Reader – Commercial Manager – AgTech & Innovation, COSTA Group said it was rare to see such a focus on ‘inorganic’ waste reduction initiatives within horticulture.

“Critical thinking in this space is vital to ensure the long-term viability of our sector. As a key priority for Costa, this program resonates positively with us and we look forward to a meaningful engagement throughout the course of the challenge and beyond,” he said.