Australian grown coffee is a small but rapidly emerging premium agricultural industry with strong potential to become internationally competitive. Cultivated across diverse tropical and subtropical regions, Australian coffee is defined by a distinctive terroir, or ‘taste of place’, often described as sweet, nutty and fruity, and is highly regarded by specialty coffee consumers. With a strong focus on quality, careful farm management and industry collaboration, Australian coffee producers are building resilience and long‑term opportunity.
The AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program helps grow the value and diversity of Australia’s rural economy by driving the growth or development of emerging, high potential rural industries. This is done through research that explores opportunities for growth and through skills development for industry leaders. Our goal is to sustainably grow developing rural industries and help them reach new markets.
The Australian coffee industry has been identified as a priority emerging sector, with strong growth potential but clear challenges around scale, climate variability and production costs. In response, AgriFutures is investing in a coordinated five‑year research program guided by the Australian Coffee Industry RD&E Plan 2025–2030 to improve productivity, resilience and market competitiveness across Australian coffee farms.
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Poised to develop into an internationally competitive sector, collaboration underpins the success of Australian grown coffee. AgriFutures works with growers, researchers and the Australian Grown Coffee Association (AGCA), alongside other industry representatives, to deliver RD&E priorities identified in the Plan, ensuring research outcomes are practical, adopted and industry‑led.
If you’re interested in contributing to Australian coffee research, participating in trials or events, or learning more about AgriFutures investment priorities in coffee agriculture, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to discuss opportunities to support a productive, profitable and resilient Australian coffee industry.
AgriFutures aims to increase supply, consistency and quality of Australian grown coffee to unlock premium domestic and export opportunities. Research focuses on improving yields, supporting best‑practice production and enabling growers to produce high‑value specialty coffee while maintaining long‑term profitability and resilience.
The Australian Coffee Industry RD&E Plan 2025–2030 identifies limited supply, ageing plantations, climate variability and high production costs as key challenges. Fragmented industry structures, biosecurity risks and low consumer awareness of Australian‑grown coffee also restrict growth and competitiveness.
Expected benefits include increased supply through improved varieties, enhanced quality through terroir and fermentation research, and a stronger, more coordinated industry. With AgriFutures supporting and enabling industry‑led research, capacity building and knowledge sharing, these outcomes will help growers and stakeholders build a competitive and resilient Australian coffee agriculture sector, with improved market access and long‑term profitability.
To keep up with AgriFutures’ coffee work, subscribe to Emerging Industries Program news and updates below and explore the latest coffee research outcomes and project updates on the AgriFutures website.
You can also visit the Australian Grown Coffee Association for broader industry information, contacts, and additional updates relevant to coffee farming in Australia.
Visit the Australian Grown Coffee Association website https://www.agca.au/
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