Pre-Farm Gate Waste Program

A person wearing a red jacket and green waders holds a fishing net near a body of water in a rural area, with blurred greenery and trees in the background.

Research overview

The Pre-Farm Gate Waste Program aims to align the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector with Australia’s National Waste Policy.

AgriFutures Australia’s investment in pre-farm gate waste research, supports the priority of identifying, understanding and responding to national challenges and opportunities impacting Australian rural industries. The program was designed to look outside current national initiatives to undertake actions to minimise:

  • Organic: Animal and plant organic matter, such as manure from farms and intensive animal systems, harvest waste, pruning and other organic matter.
  • Plastic: Protected cultivation films, nets, piping, irrigation/drainage, packaging and other.
  • Workshop: Hard and soft plastics, for example those used in field production, glasshouses and workshops, and to store produce (e.g. silage).

Management of waste from primary industries is an emerging and complex issue which requires pressing attention. Agriculture, fisheries and forestry produce a large amount and diversity of waste, with waste disposal often involving environmentally harmful practices (such as burning, on-farm burying and dumping), landfill and the unproductive use of ‘end of first use’ resources. ​

With rural industries setting waste reduction targets and considering waste management in their sustainability frameworks means they can use this baseline data to track progress against targets. It is recommended users consider this data in conjunction with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry National Waste and Resource Recovery Roadmap.

Reports

Rows of green plants growing inside a large, arched greenhouse tunnel made of transparent plastic, with plastic sheeting on the ground—an example of modern agriculture research in Australia, as sunlight shines through the structure.

Towards circular material futures: Development of innovative solutions to recycle and re-purpose existing pre-farm gate waste

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Rows of crops covered with white protective netting stretch across a green agricultural field in Australia, creating a pattern of parallel lines and showcasing innovative development and research in plant protection.

Pre-farm gate waste management: Baseline waste data for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector

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A large round hay bale sits in the foreground of a rural, dry, harvested field, with many more hay bales scattered in neat rows across the landscape under a bright sky.

Pre-farm gate waste management: Guidelines for waste data collection

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A red cherry and green leaves are caught in a turquoise garden net, with sunlight highlighting the fruit and parts of the net—evoking a scene of natural development amid blurred greenery.

Options for improved waste management: Current practices and opportunities for improved pre-farm gate waste management in agriculture, fisheries and forestry

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Resources

Project tag icon for Fact sheet: Pre-Farm Gate Waste Data Dashboard

national challenges and opportunities

Fact sheet: Pre-Farm Gate Waste Data Dashboard

The Pre-Farm Gate Waste Data Dashboard is an interactive platform offering sector-wide baseline data on waste generation primarily for Australian agriculture, with limited data for...

Publication / 2 Pages

Pre-farm gate waste management: Baseline waste data for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector

Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector is making inroads to reduce its waste footprint and align with Australia’s National Waste Policy. Investment in a range...

Publication / 68 Pages

Pre-farm gate waste management: Guidelines for waste data collection

Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector is making inroads to reduce its waste footprint and align with Australia’s National Waste Policy. Investment in a range...

Publication / 92 Pages

A banana plantation with bunches of bananas wrapped in blue plastic bags hangs from the trees—a scene highlighting modern agriculture. The ground is dry and brown, and the sky above is clear and blue.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry National Waste and Resource Recovery Roadmap

The National Waste Policy Action Plan focuses on changing practices in the urban and industrial sectors but has limited guidance for the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sector. This roadmap, developed in partnership with industry, addresses this gap.

Developed by RM Consulting Group the roadmap presents a cross-sectoral approach and is complementary to activities already being undertaken by individual RDCs, state and federal governments and the National Farmers’ Federation.