What was it all about?

This program successfully re-established a confidential benchmarking process for Australian banana growers and generated practical business insights to support farm decision-making.  

The project collected and analysed financial and production data from participating growers across Australia between 2023 and 2026. Working with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council, the project team engaged growers through roadshows, site visits, direct contact and flexible data collection methods designed to reduce participation burden. All data was validated, anonymised and incorporated into a benchmarking model that produced individual grower reports and two industry benchmarking reports covering the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. The project also introduced a like-for-like analysis method that improved the ability to compare business performance between years.  

The project addressed the need for reliable business performance information in an industry facing rising input costs, labour challenges, compliance requirements, freight pressures and market variability. Results showed that cost control, labour productivity, fruit recovery and income conversion were key drivers of profitability. The analysis also highlighted opportunities for improvement in fruit rejection management, packaging costs, logistics and compliance burden.  

The project has helped growers better understand how their businesses compare with industry benchmarks and where management changes can improve returns. The findings provide a foundation for future research, development and extension activities focused on labour efficiency, freight and logistics, fruit recovery, compliance costs and packaging innovation.  

Key outputs included a benchmarking model and data collection process, individual grower benchmarking reports, two annual industry reports, and industry recommendations to guide future investment and business improvement.

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Growers can request access to the benchmarking reports by getting in touch directly with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council.