A Systems Thinking Approach to Australian Agriculture
Project Summary
AgriFutures Australia, in partnership with Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), has appointed the Australian AgriFood System Alliance to deliver a landmark project examining how systems thinking can be applied to strengthen Australia’s agrifood innovation ecosystem. The project will explore how agriculture and food can work more effectively with other national priority sectors such as energy, mining, defence, health, and technology to address complex, interconnected challenges and unlock system-level change. By building on the strengths of Australia’s existing R&D structures and fostering cross-industry collaboration, the initiative aims to position the agrifood sector as a driver of economic, environmental, and social transformation across the nation.
Australia’s R&D System
Australia’s research and development (R&D) system is internationally recognised for its collaborative and industry-aligned structure. Central to this system are the Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), which operate under a co-investment model combining industry funding with government support. This approach ensures that research is grounded in real-world challenges and delivers practical benefits for rural industries, while also aligning with broader national priorities.
The Need for Systemic Change
Despite these achievements, a significant gap remains in how Australia’s broader innovation system operates - particularly in the application of systems thinking and facilitation of multi-sector collaboration. Australia now faces increasingly complex challenges such as food and water security, climate adaptation, energy transition, advanced manufacturing, biosecurity, and regional resilience that cannot be effectively addressed through traditional, sector-specific approaches. These systemic issues demand integrated innovation systems capable of spanning multiple industries and disciplines.
The Role of Systems Thinking
A systems thinking approach offers a holistic framework for addressing these challenges. It enables a deeper understanding of how agricultural and food systems intersect with environmental, technological, industrial, and economic dynamics, and supports the development of coordinated, long-term solutions. By fostering mission-led, inclusive collaboration among government, industry, academia, and communities, Australia can harness its agrifood sector as a catalyst for national productivity, sustainability, and resilience.
Purpose of the Project
This project will explore how systems thinking can be embedded more effectively across Australia’s agrifood and allied innovation ecosystems. It will build on the strengths of existing R&D structures such as the RDCs, while identifying practical opportunities to strengthen multi-industry collaboration and co-investment. The program of work aims to unlock system-level change - mobilising agriculture and food not just as a beneficiary of innovation, but as a driver of economic, environmental, and social transformation across the nation.
Delivering Actionable Outcomes
This work will generate actionable recommendations to advance the national innovation system. By embedding systems thinking into research design and enabling inclusive partnerships, the project will position Australian agriculture and food at the forefront of efforts to build a more resilient, sustainable, and future-ready innovation landscape.
Stakeholder Impact
Stakeholders - including private sector partners, producers, and innovators from adjacent industries - will gain a clearer understanding of how multi-sector collaboration and systems thinking can address the pressing challenges facing agrifood and its connected industries. The identification of collaboration opportunities will support Australia in aligning efforts and resources to drive innovation, security, and sustainability across the national system.
Key Activities and Outcomes
- Conduct a global scan of leading international innovation systems where agriculture, food, and related industries play a central role in driving national outcomes.
- Map Australia’s most pressing systemic challenges and identify where agriculture and food intersect with other national priorities such as energy, health, mining, defence, and advanced manufacturing.
- Develop a strategic stakeholder map and practical models for cross-industry collaboration and investment, highlighting mechanisms for shared value creation.
- Develop a living blueprint for a systems thinking approach for the agrifood industry innovation system, guiding long-term coordination, investment, and implementation.
- Engage stakeholders through a coordinated series of activities - including briefings, webinars, workshops, and targeted consultations - to share findings, extend recommendations, and ensure alignment with national priorities.