Optimising Organic Waste and Cultivating Circularity for Australian Agriculture

Hitting two birds with one (circular) stone

The world's growing population has led to a global surge in demand for essental resources: food, energy and water. At the same time, climate change threatens the security of our resource supplies and reducing emissions is essential to mitigating its worst effects.

Australia's agriculture sector and rural businesses have a real opportunity to address both resource supply and climate change. How? By harnessing the power of organic waste!

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. 

Research for resources

For this project, funded by Agrifutures Australia, ISF researchers drew on their deep expertise in organic resources circular economy to: 

(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. 

Led by ISF researchers Prof. Dana Cordell and Dr Melita Jazbec, the research team compiled 'deep-dive' case studies of international circular economy projects and programs that demonstrate best practice. These case studies considered intersecting benefits, such as resource conservation and emission abatement. 

The researchers went on to comprehensively analyse baseline organic data  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.

The upshot – resources to help ag industry players put theory into practice

Our research was converted into a series of practical, accessible resources for members of the agricultural sector and rural business owners. This is a crucial step in actioning circular economy practice in Australia.

The researchers' case studies were converted into a series of short videos including:

• Introduction to Optimising Organic Waste and Cultivating Circularity for Australian Agriculture
• Limestone Coast – how natural elements can support productive farming systems
• Rita's Farm – an example of a simple but powerful circular system
• Ocean2Earth – an initiative converting timber and fisheries waste into microbial compost
• REGYP – recycled gypsum as a cost-effective alternative to natural gypsum

Our research was also converted into a collection of easy-to-use decision-making tools, guides, checklists and evaluation materials.  These materials are freely available to anyone in the agricultural sector who wants evidence-based advice on how to implement a successful andf cost-effective circular economy program that will help to maintain a stable and sustainable resource supply.