"Australian businesses are becoming more aware of the importance of traceability and how it can add value to their businesses.
"Consumers definitely want to know where their food comes from, and Oritain's proof of origin technology can offer that reassurance," Mr Cochrane said in a statement.
Oritain saw Australia as a market with significant potential for growth. They were a large country of exporters to Asian markets where food fraud, in particular, was a real challenge.
"Asian consumers tend to see Australian food as being both high-quality and safe, so this reputation - along with the bottom line - must be protected," he said.
Recent changes within the Global Food Safety Initiative industry collaboration also meant businesses were starting to have greater focus on supply chain vulnerability assessments, which was likely to mean greater adoption of control measures to help manage that risk, he said.
Oritain's new Australian business would be led by Sydney-based Sandon Adams whose experience in the food industry included a long tenure at Nestle.
Oritain has close ties to the University of Otago and is based at AgResearch's Invermay campus. It also has an office in London.
Earlier this year, the company partnered with global medical technology giant GE Healthcare to run a test-based traceability programme to authenticate country of origin of foetal bovine serum, used in human and animal health vaccines.
