Does Australia grow its own food?
Sophia Koch
Updated on May 31, 2026
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Accordingly, does Australia produce enough food to feed itself?
Currently, our exports feed (at least in part) 36.6 million people outside Australia. If we add that to our domestic population, 61 million people will eat Australian food in 2017. The answer is yes, but not simply by doubling the amount of food we produce.
is Australia a net exporter of food? We sell around 65% of farm production overseas, making Australia a leading food-exporting nation. However, despite being a net food exporter, Australia also imports foods such as coffee, chocolate, processed fruit and vegetables, and key ingredients used in baking our daily bread. We are part of a global food system.
Similarly, it is asked, what food does Australia Grow?
Australia's main crops include wheat, barley, canola, cotton, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables. Crops of somewhat lesser value to the economy include sorghum, oats, rice, pulses, and corn (maize).
How much food does Australia produce each year?
Each Australian farmer produces enough food to feed 600 people, 150 at home and 450 overseas. Australian farmers produce almost 93 percent of Australia's daily domestic food supply. As of 2016-17, there are 304,200 people directly employed in Australian agriculture.
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