Predicting Opportunities for Australian Agriculture

Project Overview

This project applies data analytics, visualisation, and data mining techniques to predict the “next big trend” that will impact the profitability and sustainability of the agricultural sector. Understanding the innovations that can transform food and fibre production and consumption in Australia and globally is key to making the Australian rural sector more profitable, sustainable and dynamic. In this project, a transdisciplinary team is working with experts in the rural sector and in universities to determine the emerging issues that will impact the sector in the near future, and further down the track.

Real world Impacts

Our first horizon scan identified emerging trends in consumer choice around provenance, lifestyle, and food as identity amongst others –  laying the groundwork for future predictions.  We are now working with young agricultural innovators and experts in different domains of science and business to predict the emerging issues that will shape the future of rural industries.

Publications

Hamilton, G.S., Swann, L., Kutty, S., Hearn, G.N., Nayak, R., Donovan, J., Polson, D., Rittenbruch, M., & Hellens, R. (2018). Horizon Scan Final Report: Detecting Opportunities and Challenges for Australian Rural Industries. Australia: AgriFutures Australia.

Hamilton, G.S., Swann, L., Kutty, S., Hearn, G.N., Nayak, R. Donovan, J., Polson, D., Rittenbruch, M., & Hellens, R.(2017) Horizon Scan 4: November 2017.  Australia: AgriFutures Australia.

Hamilton, Grant S., Swann, L., Kutty, S., Hellens, R., Hearn, G.N., Nayak, R., Donovan, J., Polson, D., & Rittenbruch, M. (2017) Horizon Scan 3: July. Australia: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

Hamilton, G.S., Swann, L. Kutty, S., Hearn, G.N., Nayak, R., Rittenbruch, M., Hellens, R., Polson, D., & Donovan, J. (2017) Horizon Scan 2: April 2017. Australia: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.