Central Queensland Agricultural Supply Chain Baseline Study: Final Report

Export of agricultural commodities from the Central Queensland (CQ) region offers significant growth prospects due to existing multi-sectoral developments, the potential for market diversification, and ability for product value-adding. However, the functioning of export supply chains within the CQ region is yet to be examined in terms of supply and market size, labour markets, land and water availability, external economies and diseconomies. Undertaking a structured analysis of key products, supply chain features, and the structure and processes of markets, offers an important first step in realising the full potential of the region’s agricultural profile through well-coordinated and integrated supply chains. The purpose of this project was to develop a baseline framework for agricultural supply chain characterisation at regional level as well as to develop a supply chain mapping tool, which can be used to build a database of commodity specific agricultural supply chain. This mapping tool would help identify commercially viable produce for local and export markets. In this report, we (1) review the literature to develop a baseline framework and mapping tool for describing agricultural supply chains, (2) validate and refine the framework and mapping tool to achieve greater reliability and comprehensiveness, (3) identify limitations in agricultural datasets in Australian and other contexts which, if resolved, could enable more effective supply chain mapping, (4) discuss data/information about key products and their supply chains in CQ, and (5) use the tool to map the supply chains of seven case study agricultural commodities in CQ.