New report offers insights into crop loss and waste on Aus horticultural farms

New data collected by ABARES reveals that the average percentage of crop loss or waste per Australian horticultural farm dropped in 2023-24 and varied significantly depending on crop type.

The report entitled Crop loss/waste on Australian horticulture farms 2023-24 shows the average percentage of crop loss or waste was 20% in this period, down from 25% in 2022-23 when production was impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding.

Crop loss or waste was highest for mangoes at 37%, and lowest for pineapples at 8%.

The report was commissioned by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to fill specific data gaps on food loss and waste in primary production in the horticulture industry.

ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said weather events posed the biggest threat to producers, causing horticultural crop loss and waste on 63% of farms.

“Agricultural production is inherently risky, and external events outside the control of farm managers are a constant challenge within Australian agriculture,” he said.

Only 4% of farms cited labour shortages as the cause of crop loss or waste, a drop from 7% in 2022-23 and from 16% in 2021-22.

The proportion recovered for alternative uses was 16%, up from 10% in 2022-23, led by almonds, macadamias and other nuts. Of the remainder in 2023-24, much occurred pre-harvest, accounting for 58% of total loss per farm, with 26% lost during or after harvest.

Crop loss or waste was left on the ground by nearly half of farms (45%), ploughed into the ground (24%), and used for compost (16%) or animal feed (11%).