ANSTO highlighted its innovative research on food origin during a captivating presentation at the Australia Pavilion of Expo 2025 in Osaka from October 8 to 10. The event attracted thousands of visitors, primarily from Japan, who engaged with the dynamic live show and expert panel discussions aimed at demystifying the science behind food provenance.
The Australian Pavilion estimated an impressive turnout of approximately 15,000 visitors each day, contributing to the overall attendance of more than 28 million throughout the Expo, which ran from May to October. ANSTO’s CEO, Shaun Jenkinson, emphasized the significance of this event, stating, “It was an outstanding opportunity for ANSTO to showcase used nuclear and other scientific techniques to tackle a real-world challenge.”
Dynamic Live Show Engages Audience
The live show, formatted like a Japanese television game show, captivated the predominantly Japanese audience with interactive segments designed to educate and entertain. Hosted by Bridget Murphy and Sarah Tyler from ANSTO’s education team, the 23-minute presentation featured engaging challenges, such as “Guess the word” and “Build the environmental fingerprint pattern.”
A food critic, portrayed by Leah Mitchell, competed against scientist Dr Debashish Mazumder in a spirited contest to identify the source of sushi. Utilizing portable X-ray fluorescence scanner technology, Dr Mazumder confirmed that the sushi originated in Japan, much to the delight of the audience. The show included visually stimulating videos, including a specially created animation by Helena Cartner, a student from Griffith Film School, showcasing Indigenous artist Linday Clarke‘s work.
The Pavilion also featured educational materials, distributing a Periodic Table of the Elements that included a Japanese translation, designed by ANSTO’s creative director, Karl Mutimer. The event was enhanced by the contributions of two Japanese collaborators, Dr Takeshi Iimoto from the University of Tokyo and Ms Yoko Nara from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, who provided insights on effective science outreach.
Expert Panel Discusses Food Provenance Challenges
An expert panel event drew around 40 guests, including key stakeholders from both Japanese and Australian government and industry sectors. The discussion centered on the complexities of determining food origin, the approaches developed by ANSTO for authentication, and the varying requirements for country of labeling. The Commissioner-General for Australia at Expo 2025, Nancy Gordon, warmly welcomed attendees to the event.
Panel discussions were moderated by Prof Jesmond Sammut, a prominent figure in aquaculture research from the University of New South Wales, which collaborates closely with ANSTO on seafood research. Other panel members included experts from various organizations, such as Dr Masayuki Komatsu, Chairman of the Institute of Ecosystem Research Japan, and Dr Yaeko Suzuki from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization.
The event featured a video presentation that outlined the scientific advancements in food origin research at ANSTO, highlighting the adaptation of portable X-ray fluorescence technology for use in markets and fields. Leah Mitchell, a senior government advisor at ANSTO, served as emcee for the panel discussion.
Dr Mazumder expressed hope that insights gained from the Expo could be shared with collaborators across academia, industry, and government to enhance resources and databases related to food provenance.
The participation of ANSTO at Expo 2025 was supported by funding from the Australian Government, reinforcing the importance of scientific research in addressing global food authenticity issues.
