Increasing the capacity to identify and action value chain integration opportunities

Abstract

This report provides a review of the past value chain sugar research in Australia and other countries, and formulates key messages that the Australian industry can learn upon for future value chain activities. Compared to farming systems research, value chain research in sugar is not widely understood in the Australian industry, nor are the benefits of its existing research activities or new opportunities. In this document there are 11 current and past Australian projects reviewed that addressed value chain issues. An additional five projects from overseas sugar industries are also reviewed. Attitudes towards value chain research have been captured through focus groups and interviews in Maryborough and the Herbert, which are also summarised in this report. Value chain research in the Australian sugar industry has evolved substantially since its beginnings in 1997. Significant changes are in terms of learning from earlier projects incorporating their successful facets, and the increased value chain opportunities being addressed. Evolution of value chain issues and breadth of chain addressed is due to a growing acceptance within the industry of the change to achieve the benefits, but also external forces which create new priorities. This evolution is illustrated in Table 1 for the Australian sugar industry projects from 1997 to 2005, with the projects in ascending chronological order or start date.