The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), located in Canberra, is an Australian government economic research agency noted for its professionally independent research and analysis.

Our objective is to contribute to the competitiveness of Australia’s agricultural, fishing, forestry, energy and minerals industries and the quality of the Australian environment by providing rigorous and independent economic research analysis and forecasting.

The bureau’s executive director is responsible for the research methods employed, the conclusions reached and the dissemination of results. ABARE disseminates the results of its research through the media, our web site, the national Outlook conference, regional Outlook conferences around Australia and many other speaking engagements. All information on our web site is available free.

ABARE first came into being as the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (BAE) as a Division of the Ministry of Post-War Reconstruction in July 1945, with the proviso that it be transferred to the Department of Commerce and Agriculture early in the postwar period. The first director was Sir John Crawford. In 1987 the BAE was merged with the Bureau of Resource Economics to form ABARE to undertake economic research and analysis for agriculture and resources and energy.

ABARE employs around 150 staff comprising economists, statisticians, modelers, mathematicians and support staff.

In our history of over sixty years, ABARE has amassed a wealth of expertise in applied economic research. We use the latest innovative modeling techniques and our extensive corporate databases contain data not available elsewhere.

We are proud that our research contributes to some of the most important items on the Australian and international policy agendas:

• multilateral trade negotiations and more open agricultural markets
• greenhouse gas emissions and climate change response policies
• water policy reform
• energy
• minerals exploration and policies
• issues in regional Australia
• Australian farm performance
• Australian farm surveys

ABARE also produces regular quarterly forecasts for the full range of export commodities, so that industries can plan their future better, based on sound research. Our commodity results cover agriculture, minerals, energy, fisheries and forestry. 

ABARE is one of the few bodies producing medium term and regular quarterly forecasts for Australia’s major export commodities.

principles for undertaking externally funded work The majority of ABARE’s activities are funded directly by the Australian Government. In addition to this work, each year ABARE provides research products for clients outside the Australian government. In determining the nature and scope of the project work undertaken for clients, ABARE uses the following principles to assess the appropriateness of external work. Externally funded work must: meet Australian Government objectives and be appropriate for a Commonwealth agency; be fully cost recovered; comply with Australian Government Competitive Neutrality Guidelines, where applicable; involve economic research, analysis and advice and/or related survey, data or statistical work; draw on available skills, capacity and/or partnerships, or have the potential to develop these; be consistent with ABARE’s research priorities.

Last updated: Monday, 4 February, 2008 3:53 PM