CSIRO has completed Australia’s first national stocktake of its $800 billion food system, which feeds 100 million people. Approximately 40% of Australia’s agricultural produce originates from the Murray-Darling Basin, including 100% of our rice, 74% of our grapes, and 30% of our dairy products – making this report essential reading for those working within the Basin.  

The report highlights the system’s hidden costs—mainly environmental and health impacts—could reach $274 billion, the highest per capita globally. It calls for a shift to a more integrated, systems-based approach to food policy and management to ensure resilience, sustainability, and equitable access to nutritious food.  

Three key actions are proposed: recognising the food system as an interconnected whole, sharing responsibility across sectors, and improving coordination between disconnected parts. The stocktake, produced with the University of Queensland, lays the foundation for regular, coordinated reporting to guide future improvements.  

Find the full report here.