A new research program to help growers unlock value.

One million tonnes of fresh produce never makes it off Australian farms each year (FIAL, 2021), with growers reporting average food loss and waste rates of 20% per farm (ABARES, 2025).

End Food Waste Australia and Hort Innovation are leading a new research project to help growers maximise first-grade produce, unlock new markets for second- and third-grade produce, and develop farm-ready resources to reduce food waste and get more value from every crop. 

This new research program puts growers at the centre of national on-farm trials designed to measure where losses occur, test practical ways to lift utilisation from each harvest, review product specifications, identify commercially viable pathways for surplus and out-of-spec produce, and develop farm-ready resources.
Watch the video to learn more about growers saving food and new research for more people to get involved.

This program Reducing on-farm food waste and unlocking its value for grower profitability and sustainability is funded through Hort Innovations Frontiers with co-investment from End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, who research activities are funded by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research (CRC) Program, Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the University of Queensland.