Yarrabilba Circular Food Economy

The Challenge

Designing sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities for a growing population is a challenge faced across the world. The origins of the food we eat are increasingly obscure and people in urban centres are often detached from food production. How can communities be designed to increase food security, minimise waste, build knowledge and skills, drive employment and enhance the natural environment? How can communities actively participate in the food economy of their region?

The Solution

Yarrabilba in South East Queensland will host Australia’s first residential  ‘circular food economy’ as part of this Food Agility project led by QUT and  Lendlease. The project aims to develop a local food community based on circular economy principles. This means that the community’s food and green waste is collected and converted into compost. The compost can be used to support food production, putting seasonal, local food into the heart of communities. Food waste is diverted from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This project developed a community app to track food waste and offer incentives. Sensors were made from e-waste and monitored the quality of the compost via methane readings that push data into the app. Alerts tell the community when the compost and gardens require inputs.

These new technologies and research outcomes will be embedded into Lendlease’s development plans, which will see the population of Yarrabilba grow to 45,000 by 2041.

Outputs

• New, scalable model for urban agriculture that can be applied in other Australian towns and cities
• Prototype digital community composting system with in-built sensors, dashboard and incentive system
• Smartphone-enabled community credit/bartering system where people can exchange goods and services related to food
• Community engagement program to build local skills and knowledge

More information:

Visit QUT's website for access to knowledge, tools and resources to start building your own zero-waste circular food economy for communities, schools and other institutions.

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