Sponsored content provided by OzHarvest
OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, dedicated to stopping good food from going to waste and delivering it to charities supporting people in need. Every day, our iconic yellow vans and trucks collect quality surplus food from supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, corporate kitchens, hotels, airlines and more, ensuring it gets to the people who need it most.
But OzHarvest does much more than rescue food. From education to innovation, events to community dining, our mission is to ‘Nourish our Country,’ and that means tackling food waste at every level of society.
Food Insecurity in Australia
More Australians than ever are struggling to access enough food. OzHarvest’s Frontline Report 2026 reveals that more than 74,000 people are turned away from food support every month, as frontline charities struggle to cope with rising demand. The report draws on 875 frontline charities across Australia, with 70 per cent of those surveyed reporting an increase in people seeking support over the past 12 months.
Working families, mortgage holders and dual income households are now regularly accessing emergency food relief. Despite this, over 1,600 charities remain on OzHarvest’s waitlist for food support.
Food Waste in Australia
At the same time, Australia wastes around 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Shockingly, 70% of that is still edible. When food ends up in landfill, it rots and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas more harmful than carbon dioxide. Globally, food waste causes roughly 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, four times more than the entire aviation industry.
Education
OzHarvest understands that long term change starts with knowledge. That’s why OzHarvest runs education programs that teach kids, teens, and adults how to cook nutritious meals, reduce food waste, and make positive food choices. OzHarvest also advocates at every level, from household behaviour to national food policy, to drive systemic change and inspire a culture that values food and its impact.
OzHarvest Ventures
OzHarvest’s commitment to impact goes beyond food rescue. OzHarvest Ventures was created in 2023 to explore innovative ideas that could help to keep OzHarvest’s wheels turning, while constantly looking for new ways to address the environmental and social challenges of our time through sustainable commercial business models.
Their first launch, Conscious Drink, is a premium, alcohol free sparkling beverage created in collaboration with Indigenous owned Kakadu Kitchen. It’s crafted using fresh, rescued blueberries from Northern NSW that would otherwise go to waste. The blend also features native Australian botanicals including lemongrass, saltbush, and pepperberry.
Every bottle of Conscious Drink helps provide two meals for people in need. Proceeds also support Kakadu Kitchen’s work promoting biodiversity, food security, and edible native plants in remote Indigenous communities. The artwork on each bottle label was created by emerging Bininj artist Trentin Rasmussen, celebrating the connection to Country and culture.
With its bold flavour and deeper purpose, Conscious Drink offers a mindful, meaningful way to enjoy a refreshment and make a real difference. It’s food rescue, reimagined.
Cooking For a Cause
OzHarvest’s Cooking for a Cause program invites corporate teams and food service professionals into their kitchens for a hands on, purpose driven experience. Participants use rescued ingredients to cook fresh, nutritious meals for people in need.
It’s more than team building. It’s a powerful reminder of food’s potential to connect, uplift and nourish. Alongside learning practical ways to reduce waste, participants experience firsthand how simple acts like chopping vegetables or packing meals can have a profound impact.
OzHarvest’s work has always been deeply connected to the food industry. From chefs and suppliers to producers and event organisers, everyone has a role to play in reducing food waste and supporting food security.
Fine Food and OzHarvest
Fine Food Australia is proud to support OzHarvest, to ensure every leftover ingredient is put to good use. Together, we can ensure no good food goes to waste, and no one goes hungry.
Food is far too valuable to waste, socially, environmentally, and economically. Every tray of leftovers, every surplus pallet, every over ordered order is an opportunity to make a difference.
OzHarvest’s mission is simple: to ‘Nourish our Country.’ From product innovation to circular solutions, from community dining to national education, OzHarvest uses food as a tool for social change and invites others to do the same.
Because when food ends up in the right hands, it doesn’t just feed people. It brings people together. In the hands of those who care, food can change lives.
Fine Food Australia 2026 takes place 31 August – 3 September at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Four days, thousands of products, and one unmissable event for Australia’s foodservice and hospitality industry. Discover the latest in food, drink, equipment and technology, connect with suppliers, source new products and attend live demonstrations, all under one roof. Entry is free for trade professionals. Register now →