Trusted Food Group

Trusted Food Group is a biotechnology start-up focused on addressing the significant challenge of food and wine fraud, particularly within Asian export markets. The company was founded by Wes Ward, who brings a multi-generational agricultural perspective to the enterprise. His family's 124-year history in farming underpins the company's mission to enhance farm gate returns and support regional communities by building trust in their produce. Based at Runway Geelong at Federal Mills, the firm is developing a suite of technologies to provide unequivocal proof of provenance for premium products.

The company's core offering is centered on its proprietary 'Regional Fingerprints' technology. This biotechnology leverages the naturally occurring, unique biomarkers found within food and wine from a specific geographical region, essentially creating a molecular-level signature to verify a product's origin. This scientific validation is designed to protect brand-oriented, export-focused food and wine producers from the risks of product imitation, substitution, and dilution, which are particularly prevalent in markets like China where a high percentage of imported wine is estimated to be counterfeit. By ensuring the integrity of a product's provenance, Trusted Food Group enables consumers to confidently purchase authentic, high-value goods.

The business model involves a multi-stage technology platform. Stage one is the 'Regional Fingerprints' pilot program, for which the company is actively partnering with wineries. Subsequent stages include 'The Trust Chain', a blockchain-enabled software application for secure data management, and scanning technology that will ultimately allow consumers to verify authenticity. The company targets export-focused Australian food and wine producers as its primary client base, providing them with a critical tool to differentiate their brands and securely participate in the growing 'Asian Dining Boom'.

Keywords: food fraud, proof of provenance, biotechnology, wine authentication, agritech, regional fingerprints, supply chain integrity, biomarker technology, anti-counterfeit, food verification, Australian export, Asian market, blockchain, food security, terroir verification, molecular signature, brand protection, premium foods, agricultural technology, Geelong startup