Isotopic data can be used to identify where key food commodities were grown, as well as the amount of water or carbon emissions that were part of production
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has launched an important new national resource of isotopic data – food’s unique fingerprint – that can be used to help protect and further grow Australia’s reputation for high-quality, safe, and sustainably produced food.
Isotopes.au consolidates a treasure trove of isotopic data from Australia’s leading research agencies into a single, open-access and trusted resource, which can be used by regulators and industry to verify a food’s provenance and sustainability claims and ensure compliance with trade regulations.
Isotopic data can be used to identify where key food commodities were grown, as well as the amount of water or carbon emissions that were part of production.
CSIRO lead scientist Dr Nina Welti said Isotopes.au could also underpin 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.
“This is just the beginning of capturing Australia’s wealth of isotopic data into one place – Isotopes.au – to help industries demonstrate how they’re meeting environmental targets for greater transparency with trading partners and consumers.”
Isotopes.au was developed by CSIRO in partnership with Geoscience Australia, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and the National Measurement Institute, with co-investment from the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC).
