Industry level life cycle assessment (LCA) of Australian avocado production (AV23015)

This project delivered the first industry‑wide environmental life cycle assessment of Australian avocado production. The research established clear, science‑based benchmarks for carbon footprint, water use and water scarcity, giving growers and industry a reliable baseline to understand environmental performance and identify where improvements will have the greatest impact.

The project analysed avocado production from orchard establishment through to market, using data from 31 growers representing around 14 per cent of national production across all major regions. It assessed on‑farm activities such as irrigation, energy use and fertiliser, as well as post‑farm processes including packing, storage and transport. Growers who participated received confidential, farm‑level reports, and results were shared more broadly through industry articles, a webinar and a grower workshop.

The work showed that Australian avocados perform competitively on carbon emissions compared with global supply, while also highlighting the importance of managing water carefully in many growing regions.

The project addressed growing pressure on growers to measure and demonstrate environmental performance in response to market, regulatory and supply‑chain expectations. Until now, consistent, industry‑level data for Australian avocados had been limited.

The findings show that energy use and fertiliser are the main drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, while irrigation dominates water use. The results will support future sustainability strategies, help growers benchmark their performance, and guide practical actions such as renewable energy uptake, yield improvement and more efficient input use to strengthen the industry’s long‑term sustainability.

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Read the life cycle assessment here.