• Download report PDF

  Download

The primary objective of the Identifying revenue opportunities for AgriFutures Australia’s rural industries project was to identify potential new and alternate revenue sources within 28 of AgriFutures Australia’s levied and emerging industries, and for Australian agriculture generally. Through a combination of stakeholder consultations and literature reviews, additional, new and alternate revenue sources were identified. These revenue sources range from completely new and novel opportunities to those previously explored but that could benefit from further investment. Similarly, what may be ‘old’ in one industry may well be new and untried in others.

New revenue opportunities may contribute to industry profitability and sustainability in four ways. Firstly, they provide diversification, reducing reliance on existing sources of income and thereby enhancing resilience against economic fluctuations and environmental uncertainties, such as drought or market downturn. Secondly, they can promote sustainable practices and innovation, encouraging industries to adopt environmentally friendly and technologically advanced approaches, which in turn supports long-term viability. Thirdly, they can foster economic growth and job creation in rural areas, helping to counter urbanisation trends and maintain vibrant rural communities. Finally, they can strengthen Australia’s position in the global market by tapping into emerging trends and consumer demands, ensuring the continued competitiveness of its rural industries on a global scale.

Industry-specific challenges

Specific insights relating to the Australian coffee industry include:

1. Increased climate variability, resulting in uncertainty and variability in supply.

2. Land price and scarcity limiting new industry entrants and scaling of production.

3. Overseas producers with lower production costs outcompeting Australian supply.

4. Available technological infrastructure limiting management efficiencies and increasing product prices.

5. Lack of market education resulting in low demand for Australian-produced coffee.

Industry-specific opportunities

Specific opportunities relating to the Australian coffee industry include:

1. Collaboration and partnerships to build scale – establishing co-operatives and grower groups to share knowledge and equipment, and target economies of scale.

2. Coffee by-product utilisation, through the conversion of the pulp, cherry husk, silver skin and spent coffee grounds into fertiliser, biodiesel and nutraceuticals.

3. Tapping into Australia’s ‘coffee culture’ and consumer interest to educate consumers of the industry and product characteristics. Additionally, raising awareness through marketing the benefits of Australian coffee – environmental, ‘Australian made’, high quality and superior taste.

4. Carbon and biodiversity opportunities – exploring tree crop and soil carbon projects for orchard systems under the new Commonwealth carbon review. This could also be explored with other horticultural systems.

5. Farm diversification with additional crops suited to sub-tropical climates to maintain consistent and reliable annual cashflow. Midrow and break crops should also be investigated.