Optimising Organic Waste and Cultivating Circularity for Australian Agriculture

Globally, with a growing population, demand for essential resources, food, energy and water is increasing. At the same time, addressing climate change requires mitigating emissions, where the Australian agriculture sector and rural businesses play a vital role. Circular economy models, based on principles of waste becoming a resource, closing material loops and nature regenerative activities, provide an opportunity to enhance emission mitigation pathways as well as preserving finite resources. 

This project focused on organic waste and aimed to address two objectives: 

(1) define a successful circular economy for Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and provide rural industries with a decision-making toolkit to accelerate circular programs; and 

(2) identify cross-sectoral opportunities for organic waste resulting from the agricultural sector considering economic, regulatory, and implementation aspects while taking an agnostic approach to technology. 

It showcases successful circular economy projects/programs using deep dive on best practice case studies that consider intercepting benefits, such as resource conservation and emission abatement. 

Collected baseline organic data was comprehensively analysed for circular economy projects that rural industries could implement mapping barriers and opportunities to progress sustainability and add value. Current regulations, permits and compliance requirements were scrutinised to understand the reasoning for their development, implementation implications and impacts, specifically for new organic waste circular economy opportunities.

It provides recommendations to rural industries for circular economy organic waste project implementation that is financially viable, equipping them with decision making tools, guides, checklists and progress evaluation.