Tasmania’s Esperance Bay Orchards will receive a grant of $440,000 through the Coles Nurture Fund, announced today.

The funds will be invested  in Near Infrared technology that detects the internal quality of organic fruit and limits food waste by reducing rejections.

A plan to develop a carbon neutral banana range while reducing runoff into the Great Barrier Reef is another of eight projects to receive a share in more than $3.6 million from the fund. The grants of up to $500,000 are targeted at small and medium sized businesses to implement plans to drive sustainability and innovation.

“We will become the world’s first organic apple pack house to use self-learning AI technology to reduce food waste, improve efficiency and ensure the fruit that makes it to the shelves is of the highest quality,” said Esperance Bay Orchards owner Malcolm Francis. He has been a supplier to the supermarket chain for more than 20 years.

Food rescue charity SecondBite, will receive a $500,000 grant to purchase critical equipment for its five warehouses across Australia. SecondBite Acting CEO Lucy Coward said the funds will help to increase the efficiency and capacity of its food sorting and distribution processes and allow for an additional three million kilograms of rescued food to reach vulnerable Australians each year.

“These funds will allow us to rescue up to an additional three million kilograms of food from landfill, providing up to six million additional meals to food insecure Australians every year,” she said. “With one in five Australians currently experiencing food insecurity, funds like these are vital to SecondBite being able to keep up with the growing demand.”

Coles Group Executive General Manager Fresh Andy Mossop said the latest round of recipients were chosen for their uniqueness and ability to achieve high impact sustainability goals to reduce emissions, enhance animal welfare, and reduce waste.

“I am excited to see how this round of funding will help bring to life bright ideas generated by these eight businesses,” he said. “From carbon neutral bananas, to freezing technology that promises to reduce food waste, this year’s recipients are proof Aussie farmers are leading the charge when it comes to innovation and sustainability.”

Other producers to receive grants include:

  • Bespoke Foods in Victoria was awarded a grant of $450,000 to install manufacturing and freezing equipment to increase capacity, enhance efficiency, expand product range, improve product quality and reduce food waste. The project will support the continued utlisation of a broad size range of Australian sweet potato which in turn will reduce produce wastage and optimise farming viability.
  • Atlas Soils in Queensland will use a $490,000 grant to help fund a new system for packaged food waste separation which diverts food and packaged waste from landfill as well as build a range of high-quality soil products.

Australian small businesses are encouraged to apply for the 12th round of the Nurture Fund via the website when applications open again in January 2024.