In 2018, at a cafe beside a dog park, Shaun Eislers had a brainwave. A reimagining of how we feed our pets, while simultaneously reducing pressure on our food systems as the population grows. The key? Insects.

BuggyBix, Australia’s leading insect-based pet ​food company, is dedicated to the love we have for our pets, our growing population & the pressures on our food security. 

Find out how Shaun creates safe, hypoallergenic, palatable and sustainable pet food from Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSLF), navigates social and cultural challenges, and works on building an industry as well as a business.

Featuring:

• Shaun Eislers, Owner & Founder of BuggyBix

Further Resources:

• Read more about BuggyBix: Bug Bites: Unveiling the Nutritional Benefits of Insects
• Read more about the new Australian Insect Industry RD&E Plan (2023-2028):
   It’s not just crickets – new plan guides future of Australian insect industry
• Find out more about the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program

"They smell like a cross between asparagus and peanut butter!"

Despite being recognised as a safe and nutritious food source across the world for many years, Moringa (Moringa oleifera) remains classified as a non-traditional and novel food under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which prevents the active development of moringa industry in Australia.

Two determined researchers are on a mission to change that, and bring the highly nutritious leaves, pods and seed oil of the tree into the Australian mainstream. Their research project, funded by an AgriFutures Australia Business Innovation Grant, clearly showed that M. oleifera is a safe and nutritious food source, suitable for human consumption.

In January 2024, a formal application to amend the Code was submitted to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in January 2024.  The outcome is anticipated by September 2024. 

Featuring:

• Stephen Newton, CEO, Noosa Organica
• Dr Henry Brockman, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) 

Further Resources:

• Final report: Amendment of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to permit the sale of Moringa oleifera as food
• Read the Australian Moringa Strategic RD&E Plan (2022-2027)
• Find out more about the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program

For many Aussies, coffee is a much-needed daily ritual. Despite our obsession, we import 99 per cent of our green beans even though we have a long established domestic growing industry. 
 
For our 50 Australian coffee growers, how do we further develop this industry and start growing at scale? 

Researchers from Southern Cross University have just completed a project outlining the coffee characteristics which can give Aussie growers a competitive edge.  

In doing so they have created a global first - a coffee character wheel.

Featuring: 

• Ben Liu, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University
• Simon Williams, Adjunct Fellow, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University

 Read more about the coffee project online:  Defining terroir of Australian coffee to increase demand and investment | AgriFutures Australia

Check out the Coffee Character Wheel:  AGF360-2023-Coffee-Wheel-S3V1 (agrifutures.com.au)  

AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources. 

It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project! 

In this final podcast episode we talk to  Richard Rogers, Entomologist, on chemicals for treating varroa - organic or synthetic.

Over the past six weeks, we have released five other interviews featuring global experts along with their accompanying factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management  practices from around the world. 

Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa. 

Featuring:

Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Richard Rogers, Honey bee breeding, genetics and physiology research lab - US Department of Agriculture

AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources. 

It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project! 

In this podcast episode we talk to  Elizabeth Walsh, Honey bee breeding, genetics and physiology research lab - US Department of Agriculture on integrated pest management for varroa.

Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management  practices from around the world. 

Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa. 

Featuring:

Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Elizabeth Walsh, Honey bee breeding, genetics and physiology research lab - US Department of Agriculture

AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources. 

It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project! 

In this podcast episode we talk to BartJan Fernhout, Chairman of Arista Bee Research about breeding for varroa resistance.

Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management  practices from around the world. 

Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa. 

Featuring:

Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
BartJan Fernhout, Chairman, Arista Bee Research

The AgriFutures Rice Program is aiming to increase water productivity to an average of 1.5 tonnes per megalitre by 2026. It’s an ambitious goal and will rely on whole-of industry collaboration and increased investment to achieve it. Thanks to three cutting-edge research projects, the rice industry is edging closer to this goal.

Featuring:

• John Hornbuckle, Professor (Irrigation and Agricultural Technologies), Deakin University
• Dr Wendy Quayle, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University 
• Chris Proud, Senior Rice Breeder, Rice Breeding Australia 

AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources. 

It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project! 

In this podcast episode we discuss the impacts of varroa on pollination in Australia with Emily Noordyke, Varroa Development Officer at the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management  practices from around the world. 

Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa. 

Featuring:

Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Emily Noordyke, Varroa Development Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources. 

It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project! 

In this podcast episode we discuss honeybee health and the impacts of varroa with Associate Professor for Honey Bee health, Cameron Jack from the University of Florida.

Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management  practices from around the world. 

Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa. 

Featuring:

Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Cameron Jack, Associate Professor for Honey Bee health, University of Florida.

AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources. 

It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project! 

In this podcast episode we speak with Dr Michelle Taylor , New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research on practical ways in which we can slow the spread of varroa.

Each week for the next six weeks we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management  practices from around the world. 

Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa. 

Featuring:

• Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
• Dr Michelle Taylor, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research