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Pre-Farm Gate Waste Program
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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
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Pre-farm gate waste management: Baseline waste data for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector
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Pre-farm gate waste management: Guidelines for waste data collection
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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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Designing optimal solutions for workshop waste
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National Challenges and Opportunities
Real and tangible waste management actions that can be employed in agriculture
The Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector generated an estimated 9.8 million tonnes of pre-farm gate waste in 2020-21, the majority comprised of organic, plastic and workshop material.
4 min read
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NATIONAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES / 22.07.24
‘One-size-fits-all will no longer suffice’: AgriFutures Australia reveals new revenue opportunities for rural industries
This landmark piece of research highlights the importance of tailored support and investments, ensuring that every unique sector can thrive amid a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.
4 min read
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THOROUGHBRED HORSES / 18.07.24
Pregnancy project expands to build picture of foetal foal loss
Thoroughbred industry stakeholders set to benefit from greater access to fully funded confidential post-mortems.
4 min read
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SEAWEED / 17.07.24
AgriFutures Australia’s research reveals the practicalities of using seaweed in agriculture
Australia’s extensive temperate coastline and ancient land position it as one of the world’s most biodiverse regions for seaweeds. Featuring a diverse array of species, these marine organisms offer a rich composition of protein, carbohydrates, fibre, fatty acids, and minerals, earning them the moniker of agriculture’s ‘green gold’.
4 min read