Mackay Isaac Whitsunday regional agricultural supply chain baseline study

Reference # A.1.2021028
Research Programs 1. Sector and supply chain development

Project Timeframe 9 months (2021 to 2022)
CRCNA Funding $150,000
Total project value $250,680

Supply chain development
Agriculture

Project locations: Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday

Project partners: Greater Whitsunday Alliance Limited (GW3) ; RDA Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday Inc ; North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited (NQ Bulk Ports) ; Bowen Gumlu Growers' Association Inc ; Mackay Airport Pty Ltd ; Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF)

Project summary and impacts

The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (MIW) Regional Agricultural Supply Chain Baseline Study built on the earlier Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Agribusiness Export Supply Chain Mapping Study (A.1.1819039), providing a more detailed assessment of the region’s agricultural industries, supply chains, export opportunities and infrastructure requirements. While the earlier project focused on mapping export freight movements and identifying broad supply chain constraints, this project expanded the analysis to examine market opportunities, commodity profitability, higher-value production options and pathways to new domestic and international markets.

The study developed a comprehensive baseline of the MIW agricultural sector, valued at approximately $1.36 billion in annual production, and analysed key industries including livestock, sugarcane, horticulture, broadacre cropping and seafood. It assessed existing supply chains, identified barriers to growth and evaluated opportunities to increase regional value-adding, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen export competitiveness.

The project highlighted significant opportunities for industry expansion through new irrigation developments, aquaculture, rotational cropping systems, feedlot development and greater local processing. It also identified priority infrastructure investments, including improved freight and containerisation facilities, enhanced road and rail connections and expanded water infrastructure to support future agricultural growth.

The findings have provided government, industry and regional development organisations with an evidence-based roadmap for agricultural investment and export development across the MIW region. Together with the earlier export supply chain mapping project, the study has strengthened regional planning and investment decision-making, helping position the region to grow agricultural production, access new markets and capture greater value from its agricultural supply chains.