Currently, most Australian agrifood businesses are siloed. Because they operate individually rather than collectively, investing in new technology, tools and equipment; building packing sheds, silos and storage facilities; establishing infrastructure for off-grid renewable power; connecting to a reliable water supply, constructing access roads etc, can be cost-prohibitive, especially for smaller businesses.
Frequently, Australian farms are located far from processing facilities (abattoirs, food and beverage factories) and distribution hubs, meaning higher transport costs – and, for some commodities, the requirement for refrigerated trucks – and increasing the likelihood of food loss en route.
Australian agribusinesses, for the most part, are also siloed with respect to knowledge, sharing neither information nor ideas.
Partly as a result of all this, many smaller agribusiness ventures flounder… or founder.