Food Waste Matters

In this episode, we dive deep—literally and figuratively—into the ocean's potential to regenerate food systems and tackle food waste. We speak with Pia Winberg, the visionary behind Venus Shell Systems, a company transforming nutrient waste into valuable food and agricultural products using seaweed. Pia takes us on a journey that started with planetary systems theory and ended up in large-scal...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , Robert Mackenzie , Director of Macka’s Australian Black Angus , joins Jayne Gallagher to talk about the bold sustainability moves behind their carbon-neutral beef operation — and how producers, chefs, and consumers can work together to cut waste across the food chain. Robert shares how his family has built a sixth-generation beef business rooted in quality,...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , Daniel Abrahams from the Marine Bioproducts CRC uncovers the enormous untapped value sitting in Australia’s seafood and seaweed bioproducts. With only half of our marine biomass currently being used, billions of dollars in potential products - from collagen and Omega-3 oils to skincare ingredients and biofertilisers - are being overlooked.  Daniel shares how...

Halving Food Waste by 2030: A Conversation with Tristan Butt, CEO of End Food Waste Australia   In this podcast episode, Tristan Butt, the CEO of End Food Waste Australia, shares insights into his background and the organization's mission to halve food waste in Australia by 2030. Tristan discusses the economic and social impacts of food waste, highlighting Australia's annual waste of 7.6 m...

n this episode of Food Waste Matters, Dr. Joanne Freeman welcomes back Associate Professor Lukas Parker from RMIT University to continue their discussion on date labels and storage advice. Last time, Lukas shared insights from consumer research revealing just how confusing “best before” and “use by” dates are for everyday Australians. This follow-up episode explores the next stage of his work, whe...

Most consumers can't tell the difference between “best before” and “use by” dates on food and use them interchangeably. In this episode of Food Waste Matters, Dr Joanne Freeman sits down with Associate Professor Lukas Parker from RMIT to delve into the intricacies of food labelling and how clear instructions could help mitigate food waste. Lukas is based in the School of Media and Communicatio...

Packaging design goes beyond aesthetics; it must also be functional, efficient, and aligned with broader environmentalgoals. In this episode of Food Waste Matters, we welcome Helen Johnston from Honey & Fox who is chatting with Zaidee Jackson. Zaidee is the National Business Development Manager for Sustainable Packaging at Ball & Doggett and the driving force behind Ecoporium, the go-to de...

Where you might see a blemish, Ugly Duck FineFoods creates a delicacy.   In this episode of Food Waste Matters, host Dr. Joanne Freeman of Honey & Fox interviews Michelle Masher, the owner and founder of Ugly Duck Fine Foods in Queensland. Michelle shares her journey, inspired by her German grandparents' dairy farm, to combat food waste by transforming imperfectproduce into delicious jams and...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , Dr. Joanne Freeman sits down with researcher Jack Hetherington from the University of Adelaide to explore one of dairy's lesser-known but significant challenges - whey waste. Jack shares findings from his recent study that exposes the scale of liquid whey being discarded by Australian cheesemakers and investigates why so many viable upcycling solutions r...

S3E11 Food waste meets its match: Black Soldier Flies In this fascinating episode of Food Waste Matters , we dive into the world of insect bioconversion with Sofia Katzin, founder of FlyMumma. Discover how black soldier flies are transforming food scraps into high-value animal feed and nutrient-rich fertilizer all in just 12 days. Sofia shares her personal journey from witnessing food waste in Aus...

S3E10 From Waste to Nutrition with Pia Winberg. In this episode, we dive deep literally and figuratively into the ocean's potential to regenerate food systems and tackle food waste. Host Joanne Freeman speaks with Pia Winberg, the visionary behind Venus Shell Systems, a company transforming nutrient waste into valuable food and agricultural products using seaweed. Pia takes us on a journey that st...

S3E8: Behind the farm gate In this episode, we head straight to the paddock withMelissa Smith — farmer, educator, and Churchill Fellow — to unpack on-farm food waste and the practical steps needed to address it. Melissa shares lessons from her international researchtour through Europe and the US, where she explored how global producers manage fruit and vegetable waste. From whole crop purchasing t...

S3E9: Don't overcomplicate your waste with Natalie Bolt In this episode of Food Waste Matters , host Jayne Gallagher sits down with hospitality veteran Natalie Bolt, whose 17+ year global career—from Europe to Asia—took a transformative turn in Indonesia. What began with a drive to cut costs evolved into a passionate crusade against food waste after witnessing stark contrasts between abundance...

S3E7 Turning waste into an opportunity with Ryan Collins from Planet Ark In this episode of Food Waste Matters , host Dr. Joanne Freeman welcomes Ryan Collins from Planet Ark, a leading environmental organisation in Australia. They discuss the crucial role of businesses and communities in reducing food waste, along with the practical resources and initiativesavailable to support them. Ryan highlig...

More Taste, Less Waste A big congratulations to Kelly Johnson from Woodlane Orchard, who has just taken out the Sustainability Award at this year’s Food South Australia Awards. To celebrate her recent win, we thought it was the perfect time to replay our episode with Kelly from last year where she talks about how Woodlane Orchard came to be, the thinking behind SPhiker, and what drives her commitm...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , we head to the stunning tropical city of Cairns, home to the Great Barrier Reef and the lush wet tropics rainforest. Our guest, Dan Walton, shares insights into Cairns Eco Fiesta —Queensland’s largest sustainability festival—and how it's driving real change in the community. Key Topics Discussed: What is Cairns Eco Fiesta? A free community festival focused o...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , we travel to thepicturesque Adelaide Hills to meet Susan Cornish of Kenton Valley Cherries, a family-owned orchard with six generations of history. Susan shares how her family business is tackling food waste while ensuring their orchard remains financially sustainable. Key Topics Discussed: The Realities of Farming & Food Waste The high cost of growing,...

Guest: Dr. Steven Lapidge, CEO of End Food Waste Australia Host: Jayne Gallagher, Honey and Fox Summary: In this episode of Food Waste Matters , host Jane Gallagher checks in with Dr. Steven Lapidge, CEO of End Food Waste Australia, to discuss recent progress in tackling food waste across the country. Steven shares exciting updates on initiatives such as the Great Unwaste campaign, the Australian...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , host Joanne dives into the inspiring journey of Maggie Quach, one of the creativeforces behind Beyond Best Before. This unique retail initiative tackles food waste by offering discounted, high-quality products that are near or past their“best before” date but still perfectly safe and delicious. Key Highlights: The Birth of Beyond Best Before: Maggie and her...

Discover practical ways to reduce food waste, save money and make a real difference. In our first episode of Food Waste Matters for 2025, we sit down with Mandy Hall, the driving force behind The Great Unwaste , a national campaign helping Australians reduce food waste in their homes. Mandy shares practical tips, smart shopping strategies, and simple habits that not only save food from the bin but...

Reflecting on the past year, Dr. Steven Lapidge joins Jayne Gallagher to highlight significant accomplishments for End Food Waste Australia in the final episode for 2024. It has been a year brimming with achievements, and in this episode, you can hear a brief summary with highlights including:  Release of targeted action plans for food service, catering, and horticulture sectors, with the Horticul...

In this episode of Food Waste Matters , join Dr Joanne Freeman and Helen Johnston from Honey & Fox as they explore practical solutions for reducing food waste. They revisit insightful conversations with passionate industry experts who are making a difference in sustainability and community health. While all guests in this season shared wonderful wisdom and stories, three guests in particular r...

Most consumers can't tell the difference between best before and use by and use them interchangeably. On this episode of Food Waste Matters, Dr. Joanne Freeman sits down with Associate Professor Lukas Parker from RMIT to delve into the intricacies of food labelling and how clear instructions could help mitigate food waste. Lukas is based in the School of Media and Communication at RMIT University,...

Australia. Fertile land and an abundance of agricultural products. So, what does this mean when it comes to food waste?   Regional businesses sustain the economy throughout Australia, particularly in the agricultural and food sectors. Despite their importance, these businesses often struggle with implementing sustainable practices, such as decreasing food waste, due to limited resources, lack of k...

Packaging design goes beyond aesthetics; it must also be functional, efficient, and aligned with broader environmental goals.     In this episode of Food Waste Matters, we welcome Helen Johnston from Honey & Fox who is chatting with Zaidee Jackson. Zaidee is the National Business Development Manager for Sustainable Packaging at Ball & Doggett and the driving force behind Ecoporium, the go-...