New project to tackle Australia’s A$2.5bn food waste losess

Australian fruit and vegetable growers are set to benefit from a new national research programme launched to help retain more value from every harvest by addressing the country’s A$2.5bn fresh produce waste problem.

Recent data shows that Australian horticulture growers experience average food loss rates of around 20 per cent per farm, which equates to around 1mn tonnes of produce that never makes it to market, worth an estimated A$2.5bn a year.

Programme lead End Food Waste Australia said food waste represents a significant yet largely invisible economic risk, costing Australia an estimated A$36.6bn annually - around 1.4 per cent of GDP. It is one of the largest avoidable sources of productivity loss in the Australian economy, effectively erasing more than half of Australia’s agricultural GDP.

This new research programme puts growers at the centre of national on-farm trials designed to measure where losses occur, test practical ways to lift utilisation from each harvest, review product specifications, identify commercially viable pathways for surplus and out-of-spec produce, and develop farm-ready resources.

The programme ’Reducing on-farm food waste and unlocking its value for grower profitability and sustainability’ is funded through Hort Innovations Frontiers with co-investment from End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, whose research activities are funded by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research (CRC) Program, Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the University of Queensland.

EFWA director of research, development and extension, Francesca Goodman-Smith, said this project is working with growers on industry-wide solutions to save food and money.

“International trials have shown that growers can increase profitability by up to 20 per cent through food waste reduction,” Goodman-Smith said.

“When food isn’t sold, it’s not just the food that is wasted, it is also the fertiliser, water, labour and opportunity cost of using that land that is also wasted.”

Anthony Kachenka, general manager of production and sustainability at Hort Innovation said the focus was on improving profitability for growers and strengthening industry viability.

“Australia growers produce some of the best horticulture products in the world and work hard to get it to market. This national program will support our growers by providing practical, commercially realistic tools to maximise value from each harvest,” Kachenka said.

EFWA said the work would draw on consultation with growers, supply chain businesses and consumers.

A key element will be consumer research examining preferences and regarding product specifications - the cosmetic and size standards that influence sale - to provide insights for approaches to review and apply product specifications that minimise food waste and maximise grower profitability.

Head of product strategy, quality and innovation at Montague Farms, Rowan Little, said growers want solutions grounded in the realities of producing and harvesting fresh food.

“Just because fruit has a cosmetic defect doesn’t mean it’s inedible. We’ve reached almost 100 per cent crop utilisation for our apples through secondary markets to cider and juices, and are looking at the same for our plums,” Little said.

“If we can unlock value in new markets and sell more from every crop, that’s good for growers and good for the whole supply chain.”

The research and trials are intended to test what works under Australian conditions using data collected from participating farms.

Outputs are expected to include measurement tools and loss-reduction resources backed by on-farm testing, grower training materials and case studies that set out what options work and what they cost.

EFWA also plans market feasibility studies across key commodities to identify commercially viable pathways for surplus and out-of-spec produce, as well as assessments of value-added opportunities such as powders, relishes and other processed uses, and alternative end uses including animal feed and soil amendments.

EFWA said the programme would avoid “one-size-fits-all” recommendations, noting what works can vary between commodities, regions and seasons.

Findings will be published in accessible farm-ready formats, including case studies and a dedicated knowledge hub intended to make resources easy for growers to find and apply.

Growers and horticulture supply chain businesses can register to participate in trials, workshops, suvreys, and advisory groups.