2025, Volume 28, Paper 6
ISSN: 2209-6612

Analysing the Australian Potato Value Chain Through the Food Waste Lens

Lai Shan Teresa Mok – Centre for Global Food and Resources, The University of Adelaide

Craig Johns – School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide

Abstract

The Australian potato industry is well established and contributes to the nation’s horticulture sector with over a billion dollars of production value. In this paper the considerable amount of waste generated on the pre-retail side of the value chain is investigated and some sustainability implications are considered. Using case studies and secondary data, production processes, key actors, and waste drivers are analysed. Benchmarking against international data, retailer-driven constraints such as aesthetic standards and price pressures are highlighted. Examples from Mitolo, Smith’s, and Thomas Foods reveal inefficiencies and imbalances. Some government and industry-led interventions, such as regulatory reforms, predictive technologies, and waste valorisation, are suggested to enhance transparency, improve actor coordination, and reduce waste while maintaining profitability and supply reliability.

 Keywords: potato, value chain, food waste, Australia

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