2021, Volume 24, Paper 7
ISSN: 2209-6612

The Tomato Value Chain in Australia

Jingyi Huang – Postgraduate student, Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide, Adelaide.

Abstract

Tomato is the main vegetable crop produced in Australia with a production value of $609.9 million in 2018. The industry is expanding with increasing consumption and production in recent years. The aim of this paper is to examine the performance of the tomato value chain in Australia and identify major constraints, opportunities and future improvements of this business. The study indicates that the increasing trend of tomato crop production in Australia is mostly due to effective information sharing along the chain, the adoption of innovation in production technologies such as glasshouses, and diversification of tomato types. The main constraints of the value chain are the yield uncertainty of field-grown tomatoes, lack of coordination partnerships, asymmetric standards of tomato production specification and shortage of the bush tomato type. Some potential interventions by the main tomato industry actors and supporters are suggested and include setting up industry-wide certifications and regulations, improving the alliance of value chain actors, encouraging the application of protected tomato cropping, managing tomato waste and investigating and engaging in new bush tomato varieties.

Keywords: Australia, tomato, value chain, opportunities

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