Agrifood Technology

Agrifood Technology is a leading independent analytical testing laboratory operating as a division of AWTA Ltd, one of Australia's most respected testing and certification organisations. With more than 40 years of experience in the industry, Agrifood Technology provides fast, accurate, and reliable testing services across the full spectrum of agricultural, food, and environmental matrices. The laboratory serves a broad client base including grain growers, grain traders, food manufacturers, horticulturalists, local government councils, and sporting organisations across Australia. As an independently verified analytical service provider, Agrifood Technology is committed to delivering compliant, defensible results that underpin food safety, regulatory compliance, and commercial decision-making throughout the agricultural supply chain.

Agrifood Technology holds a strong reputation as a primary testing partner for Australia's export grain industry, with decades of specialised expertise in cereal and grain analysis. The laboratory tests wheat, cereals, grains, oilseeds, and pulses against Grain Trade Australia (GTA) specifications, enabling exporters and traders to meet strict domestic and international compliance requirements. Analysis of stockfeed ingredients, hay, silage, and finished feed products is also conducted, encompassing proximate composition, energy values, fibre fractions, and a wide range of nutritional parameters. This depth of grain and flour milling knowledge—built over more than four decades—makes Agrifood Technology the laboratory of choice for agribusinesses requiring comprehensive pre-export and quality assurance testing.

Food safety testing is a core pillar of Agrifood Technology's service offering, with capabilities spanning the major categories of chemical and biological contaminants present in food and feed matrices. The laboratory screens for pesticide and herbicide residues, insecticides, and a broad panel of chemical residues using validated multi-residue methods. Heavy metals analysis covers regulated elements including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in food, grain, and environmental samples, supporting compliance with both domestic Australian food standards and international export requirements. Mycotoxin testing—including aflatoxins, fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A, and zearalenone—is conducted across grain, feed, and processed food commodities. Allergen testing is also available, enabling food manufacturers and processors to verify compliance with allergen labelling requirements under Australian food regulation.

Agrifood Technology operates NATA-accredited microbiological testing laboratories delivering complete food and feed safety microbiological services across multiple states. Microbiological testing covers indicator organisms, pathogens, and spoilage microorganisms across a wide variety of food, feed, and water matrices. The Derrimut (Victoria) microbiology laboratory holds NATA accreditation for an extensive range of tests in food and feed products, and the Bibra Lake (Western Australia) facility also carries NATA accreditation for microbiological testing, enabling fast turnaround for clients across the continent. Water microbiological testing is additionally accredited at the Derrimut laboratory, supporting local council monitoring programmes and private clients requiring potable and recreational water safety verification.

Beyond food and feed analysis, Agrifood Technology provides a holistic agro-nutritional service designed to support horticulturalists and primary producers in managing their production systems. Soil, plant tissue, irrigation water, and fertiliser analysis enables growers to understand the nutritional status of their land and crops and make informed input decisions. This integrated suite of services—encompassing soil chemistry, plant tissue nutrient profiling, and water quality parameters—positions Agrifood Technology as a one-stop analytical partner for intensive horticultural enterprises. Environmental water testing for local government councils and private sporting organisations is carried out using NATA-accredited chemical and microbiological methods applied to potable, recreational, and agricultural water samples.

Agrifood Technology holds accreditation from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia's peak laboratory accreditation body operating under the ISO/IEC 17025 international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. NATA accreditation spans multiple testing disciplines including microbiological testing, nutritional (proximate) analysis, allergen testing, and water testing across several of the group's laboratory sites. All proximate analysis methods for nutritional panel testing have been accredited to ISO 17025 across all food categories, enabling clients to use results in regulatory submissions and export documentation with full confidence in their legal standing. The laboratories are staffed by highly experienced technical, sales, and administrative personnel who maintain rigorous quality management systems and deliver results with an unwavering commitment to accuracy and timeliness.

Agrifood Technology operates laboratories across three Australian states, providing geographic coverage that supports efficient and cost-effective sample logistics for clients nationwide. Laboratory locations include Werribee and Derrimut in Victoria, Hemmant in Queensland, and Bibra Lake in Western Australia. Acquired by AWTA Ltd in February 2008, Agrifood Technology benefits from the resources and infrastructure of a diversified testing and certification group with additional operations spanning raw wool testing, product testing, and international ventures in New Zealand and China. This corporate backing, combined with Agrifood Technology's own deep specialisation in agricultural and food testing, makes it one of the most capable and well-resourced independent laboratory service providers serving the Australian agrifood sector.