Overview
- The five-year Australian Coffee Research Program is the largest coordinated investment in Australian coffee research and development to date.
- The program will help growers improve productivity, test new coffee varieties, strengthen biosecurity and explore opportunities to expand production across Australia's coffee-growing regions.
- The research program brings together experts from Southern Cross University, Plant Health Australia, the University of Queensland and the Australian Grown Coffee Association.
Australians drink around 2 billion cups of coffee every year, yet less than one per cent of the coffee consumed in Australia is home-grown.
A new $4 million national research program aims to change that, helping Australian growers capture a greater share of the nation's love for premium coffee, while protecting the industry from future threats.
Launched today by AgriFutures Australia, Southern Cross University, Plant Health Australia, the University of Queensland and the Australian Grown Coffee Association, the five-year Australian Coffee Research Program is the largest coordinated investment in Australian coffee research and development to date.
The program will help growers improve productivity, test new coffee varieties, strengthen biosecurity and explore opportunities to expand production across Australia's coffee-growing regions.
AgriFutures Australia, General Manager, Levied and Emerging Industries, Samantha Beresford, said Australia was well placed to build a globally recognised premium coffee industry.
"Australians are among the world's most passionate coffee drinkers, yet almost every cup we drink starts overseas. That presents an enormous opportunity for Australian growers," Ms Beresford said.
"Demand for locally produced food and beverages continues to grow, while global coffee supply is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate pressures, pests and diseases.
"This investment is about ensuring Australian growers have the research, innovation and confidence to produce more world-class coffee while protecting the industry from future biosecurity threats."
The research program brings together experts from Southern Cross University, Plant Health Australia, the University of Queensland and the Australian Grown Coffee Association to deliver outcomes for growers.
Research will focus on improving farm productivity, evaluating coffee varieties suited to Australian conditions, strengthening biosecurity preparedness and providing growers with better tools to manage future risks.
Southern Cross University Researcher and Program Lead, Professor Tobias Kretzschmar said the collaboration would provide the evidence needed to support sustainable growth of the industry.
"Australia has ideal conditions for producing premium coffee, but continued growth depends on giving growers access to the best science, varietals and practical tools," Professor Kretzschmar said.
"This program builds on five years of successful variety selection trials and brings together leading expertise from across the country to solve industry challenges around sustainable intensification and biosecurity, ensuring research delivers benefits for growers."
Coffee is already grown commercially in the tropical tablelands of Far North Queensland, the cooler subtropical regions of south-east Queensland and northern NSW, with the potential for expansion into other suitable regions as knowledge, genetics and production systems continue to improve.
Australian Grown Coffee Association, President, Rebecca Zentveld said growers had identified research as a high priority.
"Consumer demand for Australian-grown coffee continues to increase," Ms Zentveld said.
"Australian growers consistently produce premium coffee, but there's enormous potential to increase production and strengthen the industry's competitiveness.
"This investment will provide growers with research outcomes and knowledge to improve profitability while helping safeguard the future of Australian grown coffee."
Australia's coffee industry comprises around 40 commercial growers, farming approximately 400 hectares, with capacity to produce around 800 tonnes of coffee each year.
Far North Queensland grower, Jack Murat, said the investment recognises the industry's potential.
"Australian coffee is earning a reputation for quality but maintaining that momentum requires continued investment in innovation and biosecurity," Mr Murat said.
"The research will give growers greater confidence to invest, adopt new practices and continue producing premium Australian coffee that can compete with the best in the world."
The Australian Coffee Research Program will run for five years, delivering research and innovation that supports productivity, profitability and sustainable industry growth while strengthening Australia's preparedness against major exotic coffee pest and diseases.
