NATIONAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 
66 pages
Published: 25 May 2026
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DownloadAustralia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors face increasing pressure from climate change, resource constraints and evolving sustainability expectations. This report explores how circular economy principles can help transform these sectors—reducing waste, improving resource efficiency and unlocking new regional opportunities.
Drawing on national-scale analysis, stakeholder engagement and case studies, the report provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of circular economy opportunities across Australian agriculture. It examines where organic residues exist, how they can be used more productively and what is currently preventing circular solutions from being implemented at scale.
The findings show that while farmers and rural businesses are motivated to adopt circular practices, systemic barriers—such as regulatory inconsistencies, limited access to finance, underdeveloped markets and technology constraints—continue to slow progress.
To address this, the report outlines practical pathways for change, including the development of circular economy hubs, stronger cross-sector partnerships and fit-for-purpose policies that support innovation and investment.
Exploring how Australia’s evolving farm income streams from environmental markets to agritourism and renewable energy interact with the current tax system, this report highlights key...
This report provides a national spatial analysis of pre-farm gate organic residues to identify high-potential regions for circular economy initiatives. Using high-resolution modelling, it maps...
This report presents insights from a national survey exploring how farmers and rural businesses understand and adopt circular economy practices. It examines current behaviours, motivations...
This report presents insights from a national survey exploring how farmers and rural businesses understand and adopt circular economy practices. It examines current behaviours, motivations...
This report assesses the economic feasibility of using anaerobic digestion to process agricultural organic residues. It compares on-farm systems with larger circular economy hub models,...
Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors face increasing pressure from climate change, resource constraints and evolving sustainability expectations. This report explores how circular economy principles...
The AACE Framework provides a national guide for transitioning Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors to a circular economy. It outlines core principles, benefits and...
This practical toolkit supports farmers and rural businesses to identify, plan and implement circular economy practices in their operations. It provides step-by-step guidance, tools and...
This report examines how emerging satellite technologies particularly Low Earth Orbit satellite broadband (LEOSat) and direct‑to‑handset (DTH) services can help address persistent connectivity gaps across...
