A fish and a flower: responsible innovation in action at AgCatalyst
The Pompano: a friendly fish.
The 2024 edition of AgCatalyst took place in Brisbane on 20th November, with 530 attendees from across our organisation as well as food and agriculture industries. The conference featured 20 dynamic on-stage sessions with 60 presenters, 40 engaging exhibitions, and a live farm display.
The Responsible Innovation FSP partnered with AgCatalyst to bring conversations around trust in science to an agricultural audience. Research Director Justine Lacey appeared on the main stage, while our ‘Trust Flower’ activation bloomed in the exhibition hall.
This creative food and agriculture innovation conference showcases the latest science and technologies. Areas of research range from sustainability to soil quality, novel foods to new trends in livestock, and futuristic farming to fish production.
Four ingredients for responsible innovation
In the afternoon, Justine took the main stage with Polly Hilder and Rose Roche to introduce the audience to the star of the day: a remarkable fish called the Pompano (Trachinotus anak).
They embarked on a thought-provoking conversation around the four ingredients of responsible innovation, which are helping to bring this new aquaculture fish to market.
Justine Lacey, Polly Hilder, and Rose Roche on stage at AgCatalyst.
The four ingredients include building trust, managing risk, creating change and reflecting societal values.
The story of this fish has the power to prove how stewardship, welfare and sustainability are becoming central values in food production.
A sustainable success story
It’s not going to happen overnight, but together with industry partners, CSIRO researchers are planning to take a small quantity of the fish to market in 2027.
It’s a case study for how to introduce much-needed new sources of protein that are nutritious and easy to prepare for consumers.
It also demonstrates how food production systems can work sustainably, in a way that’s economically viable and offers farmers an opportunity for diversification.
The aim of this responsible innovation approach is to bring both producers and consumers along on this journey. This is how we ensure that future science and technology can have the positive societal impact they’re intended to.
For the final act of the day, chefs Andy Allen and Jo Barratt to do a live on-stage cooking demonstration using none other than the Pompano. Their skills put this highly nutritious, locally produced, and delicious tasting protein on some lucky attendees’ plates.
Helping trust bloom
For leading-edge research to deliver benefits across society, it’s critical for people to have trust in science. But trust is a complex idea to unpack, as it’s influenced by a whole range of factors – from what people believe about intent, to how well they feel listened to.
Our activation, the Trust Flower, prompted attendees to reflect on these ideas.
It started with a short survey about perspectives on trust in science, inspired by our research into public perceptions of responsible innovation. Each participant received a trust score – identified by a different coloured petal.
Participants stuck their petals to the Trust Flower over the course of the day, leaving a colourful record of their results.
As well as reflecting on what drives trust in science, the activation affirmed that earning and maintaining trust in science will underpin the success of new innovations in tackling the greatest challenges.