Agriculture is one of the most energy-intensive sectors and as a hard to abate sector remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels. From powering machinery to producing fertilisers and processing food, energy underpins every stage of the agrifood value chain. This dependence makes the sector vulnerable to rising costs, price volatility and supply disruptions.

As global markets shift toward clean energy, agriculture faces growing pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity. Without new energy solutions, farmers risk higher costs, reduced competitiveness, and increased vulnerability to climate and policy changes.

What challenges will the agrifood sector face in the energy transition?

Over the next decade, the agrifood sector will need to navigate a complex energy transition. Key challenges will include:

• Reducing reliance on fossil fuels while maintaining affordable and reliable food supply.
• Adopting fit-for-purpose renewables suited agricultural production systems, including rural and off-grid regions.
• Managing rising costs and volatility during the transition.
• Increasing self-sufficiency and supply certainty by integrating clean energy solutions such as agrivoltaics, biofuels, batteries and smart grids.
• Developing innovative financing and ownership models that support adoption.
• Meeting emissions targets while safeguarding energy security and supply.

These challenges mean the sector must innovate faster, collaborate more deeply, and ensure that the benefits of energy transition are shared across communities.

How can we help solve these challenges?

At ANU, we are helping to reshape the future of agriculture by accelerating the transition to clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Through our focus on agrifood energy transition, we support research, innovation, and collaboration to reduce emissions, cut costs, and improve energy resilience.

Our approach is collaborative and impact-driven, bringing together government, industry, and local communities to co-design solutions. We are:

• Developing tailored renewable energy systems such as agrivoltaics, biofuels, and smart grid integration.
• Exploring financing and ownership models that make clean energy viable for farmers and rural industries.
• Designing solutions for remote and off-grid regions, ensuring no community is left behind.
• Engaging with stakeholders to deliver projects that provide shared benefits and support sustainable land use.
• Harnessing ANU’s multidisciplinary expertise in engineering, economics, policy, and environmental science to deliver practical, scalable outcomes.

By working across disciplines and in partnership with the agrifood sector, AFII is helping build a cleaner, more resilient energy future one that secures productivity, reduces emissions, and strengthens Australia’s global competitiveness.