Melissa Smith

Melissa Smith has over 20 years’ experience in agriculture, both as a farmer and in industry policy and strategy. Her lived experience within the horticulture industry has given her a deep understanding of the important issues in this industry. Over this time, Melissa has witnessed the costly impact of food supply chain issues that lead to food waste in her own business and the whole of horticulture and how these problems must be solved collaboratively. In her role as Horticulture Lead at Stop Food Waste Australia, Melissa manages the Horticulture Sector Action Plan. This project is a global first, bringing the supply chain together to understand and reduce food waste from fresh produce nationally. This research has reinforced her personal experience that reducing food waste before it leaves the farm is vital and will deliver a triple win to planet, people and pocket. She is excited to be bringing industry, government, science and food charities together to meet Australia's ambitious goal of halving food waste by 2030.

Melissa has a communications degree from the University of Southern QLD and a Graduate Diploma (Hons) in Horticultural Business from the University of Tasmania. She has presented on the topic of reducing food waste in horticulture to multiple forums including: APEC (workshop- Farmer perspectives on food waste), the TropAg conference, Food Industry Seminars and the National Farmers Federation.