New report finds the sector could support nearly 44,000 jobs, but stronger incentives are needed to turn Australia's agricultural resources into jobs, resilience and economic value

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As Australia seeks to strengthen its domestic supply chain and create more economic value at home, new research shows that Australia's biosolutions sector could support nearly 44,000 jobs by 2035. The findings come from The Value of Biosolutions: Growth and Prosperity to 2035 – Australia edition, released today.

With supportive policies, the sector could grow by nearly 170% to AUD$13.1 billion by 2035, creating opportunities across Australian farming, manufacturing and local supply chains. This equals up to 30% of what the Australian pharmaceutical market is projected to reach by 2033.

The sector's economic impact extends well beyond biosolutions companies themselves. For every direct job in biosolutions, a further 5.1 jobs are supported elsewhere in the economy, more than twice the global average and the highest multiplier identified among the 13 countries assessed in the study.

Creating jobs across agriculture and its wider value chain

According to the report, biosolutions can help Australia create more value from its agricultural resources, industrial capabilities and domestic supply chains. As countries invest in their bioeconomies, Australia has an opportunity to grow a sector that supports growth, regional development and long-term competitiveness.

"Biosolutions are already creating value in Australia, but the opportunity ahead is significantly greater. The policy choices made today will determine whether more jobs and economic value are created here or elsewhere," says Kylie Evans, Head of Food & Beverage Biosolutions Oceania & Country Manager Australia at Novonesis.

The opportunity is immediate as well as long term. In biofuels, for example, Australia has local feedstocks and production capacity that could be used to create more value at home, reduce reliance on imported fuels and strengthen resilience to global supply disruption. Yet some production capacity remains underused and significant volumes of potential feedstock are exported.

"Clear measures to support domestic demand for bioethanol and biodiesel could help turn this existing potential into jobs, investment and greater energy resilience," says Kylie Evans.

Turning potential into growth

To translate the potential of biosolutions into jobs and investment, the report recommends explicitly recognizing biosolutions within Australia's existing industrial, agricultural and innovation frameworks. It also calls for measures including clearer demand for incentives for low-carbon fuels, improved regulatory pathways and greater access to finance for agricultural biosolutions.

"Embedding biosolutions in initiatives such as Future Made in Australia, the Cleaner Fuels Program and the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework would help unlock investment, innovation and jobs across the economy. Australia can also use its role as President of Negotiations for COP31 to demonstrate how economic growth and climate ambition can reinforce each other by strengthening energy resilience and food security, advancing sustainable agriculture and supporting industrial bioprocessing," says Kylie Evans.

Today, biosolutions are used across more than 30 industries globally and are increasingly recognized as an important driver of economic growth, innovation, and resource efficiency.

Download The Value of Biosolutions: Growth and Prosperity to 2035 – Australia Edition: https://www.thevalueofbiosolutions.com/australia-edition

What are biosolutions?

Microbes, enzymes and other proteins are the building blocks of all living things. Using modern science and technology, these microscopic changemakers can be used as solutions to help businesses reduce waste, save energy and water, cut dependence on fossil resources and develop innovative and profitable products. These biological solutions — biosolutions — are already used across more than 30 industries from preventive health and industrial applications to agriculture and food production.

About Novonesis

Novonesis is leading the era of biosolutions.

By leveraging the power of microbiology with science, we transform the way the world produces, consumes and lives. In more than 30 industries around the world, our biosolutions are already creating value for thousands of customers and benefiting the planet. Our 11,000 people worldwide work closely with our partners and customers to transform business with biology.

Let's better our world with biology.

Source: Novonesis