Horticulture Sector Action Plan (Hort SAP): Reducing Horticultural Waste in Australia

About the Research Project

The Horticulture Sector Action Plan (Hort SAP) addressed waste hotspots, root causes of waste, and prioritised practical, commercially viable solutions for reducing waste across the horticulture value chain. The project  employed a Review-Plan-Do framework to map waste reduction opportunities from production to retail, using international best practices and innovative co-design approaches to engage stakeholders across the supply chain. Key activities included waste hotspot identification, stakeholder workshops, and development of tailored action plans for the banana and melon industries.

Impact

The Hort SAP helped to reduce horticultural waste, cut emissions, increased industry profitability, created circular economy jobs, and enhanced supply chain transparency, fostering long-term sustainability in the Australian horticulture sector.

Partners

Project lead: Professor Delwar Akbar

Professor Delwar Akbar is a research leader at CQUniversity with extensive experience in regional economic development, supply chain analysis, and sector action planning. His work focuses on developing data-driven strategies to reduce waste, enhance value chain efficiency, and improve economic resilience in regional Australia. As the lead investigator for the Horticulture Sector Action Plan (Hort  SAP) project, Dr. Akbar leverages his expertise in stakeholder engagement, industry collaboration, and evidence-based planning to identify waste hotspots and implement practical solutions that align with industry needs. His approach integrates economic analysis with real-world supply chain insights to create impactful outcomes for the horticulture sector. Learn more.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

At CQUniversity we are committed to embedding sustainable practice in our operations, interactions and relationships, underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability sits as one of our strategic pillars within our Strategic Plan 2019-2023.

This project aligns to the following SDG Goals:

  • Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8)
  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9)
  • Responsible Consumption and Production (Goal 12)

Learn more about our commitment to Sustainable Development Goals.

Decent Work and Economic Growth - Top 300 logo 2025
Responsible Consumption and Production - Top 70 logo 2025