In February 2025, Coffs Harbour became the epicentre of food system innovation and connections as manufacturers, producers, businesses, researchers, and policymakers from across Australia gathered for Future Food Systems annual event, For Food’s Sake. Held from 26–28 February at Pacific Bay Resort, the three-day event featured a dynamic program, including workshops, site visits, a two-day summit, a gala dinner, and an exhibition, all dedicated to fostering connections and advancing Australia’s agrifood sector.

For Food’s Sake, aptly named the ‘National Food Summit’ by NBN Mid North News, provided a unique opportunity for attendees to explore groundbreaking initiatives in food manufacturing, protected cropping, food security, nutrition, automation, waste reduction, and more. With a focus on sustainability and resilience, the event facilitated meaningful business connections and showcased the latest research and technological advancements shaping the industry.

Day 1:

Levenvale Farm Experience

The event commenced on 26 February with a hands-on experience at Levenvale Farm in Bellingen, where 20 attendees explored the farm’s transition from conventional to regenerative agriculture. Hosted by custodians Sam and Georgina Baker, the tour provided insights into soil health, sustainable farming, and permaculture principles. A highlight of the visit was a panel discussion on sustainable food systems featuring special guest Rachel Ward, followed by a butcher demonstration and a Paddock-to-Plate dining experience.

Levenvale Farm Experience attendees discovering the 101 of meat-cuts via a butcher demonstration

Sam Baker, co-custodian of Levenvale Farm, providing an overview of regenerative farm practices out in the paddock

Future Horticulture Forum

Back at Pacific Bay Resort, over 60 participants from academia, industry, and government took part in the Future Horticulture Forum, hosted by Western Sydney University. The forum spotlighted transformative advancements in horticulture, covering topics such as smart glass technology for optimised crop environments, innovations in crop monitoring and microbiomes, automation and precision mapping systems in farming, and strategies for sustainability and efficiency in horticulture. Keynote speakers, industry leaders, and PhD students shared their latest research and applications in these areas.

LLEAF CEO Chris Wilkins delivering a keynote on the company’s glasshouse films

Tackling Food Waste Together

Dr Jonathan Middis from End Food Waste led a two-hour workshop addressing food waste challenges and solutions. The session covered national research, industry action, and introduced The Great UnWaste – a campaign aimed at reducing household food waste. Participants collaborated to develop actionable strategies across the supply chain.

An introduction to The Great UnWaste by Dr Jonathan Middis

Agrifood Site Visits

A group of attendees visited two key agrifood stakeholders in the Coffs region: OzGroup Co-Op, a 100% Australian farmer-owned cooperative in North Boambee, where guests toured the packhouse and learned about its sustainability initiatives from Shaun Tholen.

‘Berry good’. Tour attendees gather outside the OzGroup packhouse, receiving a debrief from Shaun Tholen (yellow vest)

Stop number two, King Tide Brewing, where owner Josh King hosted visitors at the brewery. Guests sampled locally crafted beers and experienced the brewery’s dedication to quality and innovation.

King Tide Brewing owner Josh King gives tour attendees an inside look at the brewery, highlighting its strong Polish roots and a mural dedicated to Lech Wałęsa and his fellow workers

Welcoming Function

The day concluded with a welcoming function on the lawn of Pacific Bay Resort. Attendees enjoyed canapés and beverages, including the Kakadu Kitchen x OzHarvest Ventures Conscious Drink – a non-alcoholic beverage made from rescued blueberries, native lemongrass, and saltbush.

Perfect weather, views and an amazing sunset provided Welcoming Function guests with a memorable evening

Day 2: The For Food’s Sake Summit

On 27 February, the highly anticipated For Food’s Sake Summit commenced with host Kim Berry leading proceedings in front of 160 attendees. A heartfelt Welcome to Country by Uncle Richard Widders set the tone, followed by opening addresses from City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams and Future Food Systems Chair Fiona Simson.

Uncle Richard Widders delivering the Welcome to Country

Summit Host, Kim Berry, and Future Food Systems Chair, Fiona Simson

Throughout the day, expert panels and keynote speakers explored themes such as partnerships, future food trends, nutrition, automation, robotics, and manufacturing. Notable speakers included Dr Ruey-Leng Loo (Australian National Phenome Centre), Craig Shephard (Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre, UNE), Dr Chris Lehnert (QUT), Shaun Tholen (Nambucca Macnuts), Dr Lou Conway (UNE), Dr Chris Downs (FaBA), Dr Akanksha Pahwa (Norco), Louise Tran (OzHarvest Ventures), and Dr Flávia Fayet-Moore (FOODiQ Global).

Networking breaks allowed attendees to visit exhibition stands from event partners, including City of Coffs Harbour, Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN), Turbine Sunshine Coast, Scitek, GreenPlus, King Tide Brewing, and uForage.

Sampling some of Coffs’ finest at the Exhibition booths

Gala Dinner & Industry Awards

The evening’s For Food’s Sake Gala Dinner was a culinary celebration, with renowned chef Mindy Woods crafting a menu featuring native ingredients. Guests learned about the significance of native foods and their culinary applications. The night also included an awards ceremony recognising excellence in the agrifood sector:

• PhD Student Pitch Award: Nikunj Naliyadhara (UNSW Sydney) & Ganjar Saefurahman (Murdoch University)
• Researcher of the Year: Dr Jack Adams (QUT)
• Industry Partner Award: BNL Industrial Solutions / Australian Hydraulic Services (Accepted by Managing Director Wayne Austin)

Gala Dinner host, Mindy Woods, addressing the audience and providing an overview of native ingredients

Sampling some native ingredients during the Gala Dinner at Pacific Bay Resort

Day 3: Summit Conclusion

The final day of the summit on 28 February featured thought-provoking discussions on how collaboration can drive better outcomes. Sessions included insights from Dave Gray (Uncle Stan’s) and Shaun Tholen (Nambucca Macnuts), as well as an exploration of agritech’s role in simplifying tasks, led by Professor Cordelia Selomulya with input from Daniel Grono (Costa) and Wayne Ford (Vertical Patch).

Kim Berry discussing the concept of collaboration with Shaun Tholen and Dave Gray

Keynotes from Dr Lijun Summerhayes (QUT, food policy), Dr Jack Adams (Coffs Agrifood Living Lab), and Hannah Chruton (From Farm to Pharma) enriched the day’s discussions. A panel featuring Dr James Krahe, Professor Doug Baker, and Dr Mirjana Prica on opportunities for innovation ecosystems brought the event to a close.

A Celebration of Collaboration

The event concluded with a relaxing evening at King Tide Brewing, where attendees reflected on the insights gained and connections made over the past three days.

Emma Hills (FFS), Kim Berry (Food & Drink Business), Louise Tran (OzHarvest Ventures), Dr James Krahe, Luke McQuillan, Anthony Battaglia and Satish Nair (FFS)

For Food’s Sake 2025 was made possible thanks to its event partners: City of Coffs Harbour, Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Western Sydney University, FAN, Turbine Sunshine Coast, Vertical Patch, Scitek, King Tide Brewing, GreenPlus Australia, Food and Drink Business, The Big Banana Fun Park, and FOODiQ Global.

This gathering highlighted the power of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in shaping a sustainable, innovative, and resilient future for Australia’s agrifood sector. New relationships formed during the event are already laying the groundwork for initiatives focused on value-adding and waste reduction.