About 50 representatives from research, industry, government and finance came together at Pagoda Resort in Como on 15 September 2026 for the WAARC Future Crops, Fuels and Bioproducts Workshop.
The workshop brought together expertise from across agriculture and the emerging bioeconomy to help shape where targeted research and development (R&D) could best support Western Australia’s future renewable fuels and bio-based industries.
Facilitated by Cameron Begley and Dr Faisal Younus from Spiegare Consulting, participants worked through the draft WA Biofuel and Bio-based R&D Investment Framework and Opportunity Map, developed by Spiegare, Allan Green and Melissa Straffon. They tested proposed R&D gaps and priorities across areas including oilseeds, cereals, crop residues and biomass, regional supply chains, carbon and traceability, conversion pathways and market readiness.
Participants also discussed the proposed work packages, identified where WA had the strongest opportunities and took part in a priority voting exercise to help guide where WAARC should invest, co-invest, coordinate or monitor future R&D.
The input gathered at the workshop will help refine the framework and build a stronger evidence base for future investment decisions, with the aim of supporting commercially credible opportunities that create new value for WA agriculture and regional economies.
