AGAVELAB™
Biofuel & Energy
Investigating agave’s contribution to low-carbon fuels and emerging renewable energy pathways.
Livestock Fodder
Assessing agave silage, nutritional characteristics and potential applications in livestock feeding systems.
Plantation Development
Developing propagation and establishment systems that support reliable, productive agave plantations.
Our R&D site Is underway – Rockhampton, Queensland
ARA AgaveLab™
AgaveLab™ connects research with the realities of growing agave in Australia. To develop reliable long term plantation data, test new tools and plantation automation, as well as research real world outcomes from fertilizer and water application, plus climate and variety effects, we are establishing a research farm near Rockhampton that will also serve as a place for collaborators, agtech developers and people who just want to experience agave and learn about the crop. This R&D farm will be complemented by field trial sites including one near Taroom in Central Queensland, plus sites in the NT, NSW and Victoria.
Together, these sites help Agave Resources strengthen plant selection, pre-planting protocols and confirm value-added advantages like carbon intensity, input economics and return on investment. The aim is to build a practical body of knowledge that informs future production, supports grower decisions and guides the development of commercially profitable production systems.
Biofuel & Energy
AgaveLab™ investigates how agave can contribute to renewable fuel and energy supply chains. Our work examines the crop’s component materials, their processing characteristics and opportunities to recover value from more of the harvested plant.
A key focus is ethanol production, which can provide feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel through Alcohol-to-Jet processing. We are also exploring the potential relevance of agave to renewable diesel and hydrogen pathways, where suitability depends on the conversion process and its energy and emissions profile.
The priority is evidence: understanding feedstock quality, conversion performance and the factors that influence lifecycle carbon intensity. This research helps identify promising applications, technical constraints and the further development needed to support commercial use.
Livestock Fodder
Reliable feed supply is a persistent challenge in livestock production, particularly through dry seasons and variable rainfall. AgaveLab™ is investigating whether agave could contribute to more resilient feeding systems by providing material suitable for preservation and use alongside other feeds.
ARA’s work includes laboratory assessment of agave silage, examining nutritional characteristics and how the material changes during fermentation and storage. These investigations help define its potential role and the questions that further trials need to answer.
Practical application will depend on feed safety, animal performance, appropriate inclusion rates and workable harvesting and handling systems. Our aim is to develop evidence that supports sound nutritional decisions and establishes where agave could offer value to livestock producers.
Plantation Development
Reliable plantations depend on the connection between propagation, establishment and long-term field performance. AgaveLab™ investigates that connection to help develop production systems suited to Australian conditions.
Our work considers plant quality, variety selection, hardening, spacing, soil preparation and establishment management. Understanding how these factors affect survival and subsequent growth is essential to managing costs and developing confidence in future plantings.
Field trials and demonstration development provide opportunities to compare approaches, identify constraints and refine practical guidance. Findings inform AgaveLink™, giving growers a stronger foundation for decisions about plant material, land preparation and the resources needed to establish agave successfully.