CSIRO has rolled out Isotopes.au, a new national resource that consolidates isotopic data to verify the provenance and sustainability claims of Australian food products.
The open-access tool is designed to help regulators and industry ensure compliance with trade regulations while strengthening Australia’s reputation for high-quality and sustainably produced food.
The database brings together isotopic data from Australia’s leading research agencies, including Geoscience Australia, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and the National Measurement Institute.
Co-investment from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) has supported its development.
Isotopic analysis can provide insights into where food commodities were grown, the water usage involved in production, and the associated carbon emissions.
CSIRO lead scientist Dr Nina Welti said the resource could support the development of sustainability standards for Australia’s $80 billion agriculture and food export industry.
“Customers increasingly want to know where and how their food was sourced so they can make ethical and more sustainable choices,” Dr Welti said.
“Isotopes are unique chemical ‘fingerprints’ that imprint clues of a product’s origin, as well as the inputs that went into production, and environmental factors like soil nutrients and groundwater flows.”
The initiative aligns with industry efforts to improve transparency in food supply chains and supports the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy.
Future developments will see Isotopes.au expand beyond land-based measurements, with applications in fisheries and aquaculture also being explored.
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation General Manager for ICT and Digitalisation, Kyaw Kyaw Soe Hlaing, said access to supply chain data is critical in addressing sustainability challenges in the sector.
“Data is key to maintaining sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions, and responding to increasing competition for marine space,” Soe Hlaing said.
“We use isotopes to answer questions about fish movements and food web dynamics. Isotopes.au is a powerful tool that complements our ARDC-supported research infrastructure project, which is looking to liberate key sources of fisheries and aquaculture data.”..
The resource complements a suite of CSIRO research and innovations aimed at growing the value of Australia’s agrifood exports, including a digital ecosystem to boost food safety and new tools to simplify and manage pest risks.
