Supporter Information:
The Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) is one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers with C$169.8 billion worth of net assets under management as of March 31, 2020.
It manages a diversified global portfolio composed of investments in public financial markets, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, private debt – and is a leading global investor in agriculture and timber through its Natural Resources group.
The Natural Resources team focuses on partnering with best-in-class local operators committed to sustainability, employee health and safety, and being positive long-term contributors to their communities.
Website: https://www.investpsp.com/en/
Andrew McKillop
2021 Scholarship winner
Andrew McKillop from Bellmere, Queensland, receives a Nuffield Scholarship supported by the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments). Through his research, Andrew will investigate how implementing a stringent food safety culture can drive sustainability and profitability within primary production businesses.
Andrew is National Quality Manager at The Avolution, a horticultural marketing company specialising in the marketing of avocados to the Australian domestic and Southeast Asian export markets.
Andrew will investigate how the adoption of a food safety culture can enhance both quality assurance and transparency around primary production.
“Domestically and in major export markets, adopting a food safety mindset is critical to the sustainability of primary production businesses, with consumers and major Australian retailers increasingly demanding primary producers improve practices and transparency,” Andrew said.
“Through my Nuffield Scholarship, I plan to study how businesses are driving profitability and delivering safe, high-quality food to market, by implementing a culture of food safety right across the supply chain.”
Andrew will also investigate how primary producers can be better educated around the development and adoption of food safety programs to increase business sustainability and bridge the knowledge gap between leading research institutions, consumer expectations, retailers, primary producers, and industry bodies.
As part of his study, Andrew plans on travelling to New Zealand, South America and South Africa to explore their export orientated production systems as well as the United Kingdom and EU for exposure to their retail-focused domestic production systems.
Phone: 0448 908 298 Email: qa@theavolution.com.au