GrainCorp: Leading Sustainable Agriculture Initiatives

Leading sustainable and innovative agriculture through another century of growth.

Sustainability at GrainCorp

As a leading agribusiness and processing company, GrainCorp aims to build and grow one of the most sustainable supply chains in the agriculture industry.

Our position at the heart of the grains and oilseeds supply chain drives our purpose to connect our people, growers, customers and local communities as a united, positive force in sustainability.

By growing and acting together, we can secure a safer and more sustainable future in agriculture.

Our Priorities

We’ve built our strategy around eight key priority areas to support our work towards a safer and more sustainable future for our industry.

These priorities have been developed to identify, improve and align our operations with industry goals and best practices.

As a company with processing operations and a large footprint of operational assets, our primary environmental impacts occur through our management of energy, emissions, water and waste.

Our Progress

FY24: 5% decrease in GHG emissions per tonne (tCO2‑e) across processing sites.
FY24: >95% of Dust and Damaged Grain diverted from landfill.

Our FY25 Priorities

Achieve a 10% reduction in FY25, in the waste-to-landfill rate across the ECA network, from an FY24 baseline.
Achieve a 2.5% energy efficiency improvement at West Footscray and Numurkah through targeted capital and continuous improvement projects.

Our climate ambition is to champion the role Australian agriculture plays in low-emission sustainable food systems. The nature of our work–connecting growers and producers to customers to deliver essential food, feed and renewable fuels–requires a deep understanding of the impact of a changing climate and the opportunities to effect change.

We’re committed to building a climate‑focused mindset into all facets of our business to ensure we’re well-positioned to meet the challenges ahead.

Our Progress

Science-based emission reduction targets developed for Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions.
Accepted the feedstock representative role on the Federal Government’s Jet Zero Council, established to lead efforts in delivering net zero aviation in Australia.

Our FY25 Priorities

The actions we are taking to support the global ambition to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and to reach net zero by 2050 fall into three broad categories:

Reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of our operations – read more here
Connecting growers with global customers to develop solutions that strengthen the sustainability of Australian agriculture and support our customers’ transition to net‑zero – read more here
Developing agricultural opportunities that support the broader economy in the transition to a low‑carbon future – read more here

You can also read more about how we are managing climate governance and the ways in which climate risks and opportunities are progressively being identified, prioritised, monitored and integrated into our strategy here

At GrainCorp, we are focused on the role we play in connecting growers with customers, to develop a mutual understanding of the risks and opportunities presented in a changing market.

We recognise the interplay between a thriving agriculture industry and the proactive management of sustainability issues, including climate and biodiversity. We seek to leverage our position to support sustainable solutions across the food, feed and renewable fuel value chains.

Our Progress

Launched GrainCorp Next, a program to optimise GHG emission reduction across grain and canola supply chains.
Member of the Nature Positive Roundtable, convened by the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation.

Our FY25 Priorities

Embark on Phase 2 of GrainCorp Next.
Expand nature-related collaboration initiatives through the Nature Positive Roundtable and SAI Platform Australia.

We are focused on the positive impact our responsible sourcing program can have on our supply chains and our broader sustainability goals.

Our Progress

Modern slavery due diligence completed with suppliers in identified high-risk sectors and geographies.
Committed to No-Deforestation across primary deforestation-linked commodities by end of 2025.

Our FY25 Priorities

Expand GrainCorp’s high-risk supplier program to the next tier of risk.
Utilise a responsible sourcing evaluation framework to prioritise and implement targeted improvements.

Delivering safe, reliable, and nutritious ingredients to our customers, and ensuring the supply of essential commodities, is fundamental to our business.

Our Progress

ISCC PLUS certification achieved at our Numurkah crush plant.
One hundred per cent of suppliers to our Human Nutrition business maintain certification to a recognised food quality program.

Our FY25 Priorities

Develop nutritional guidelines and/or targets for relevant product portfolios.
Enhance existing packaging initiatives through the development of a Sustainable Packaging Framework for GNE.

“We Stay Safe” is one of GrainCorp’s core values, and reflects our enduring commitment to the safety of our people and the environment in which we operate.

Our Progress

FY24: 13.8% decrease in Recordable Injury Frequency Rate.
FY24: Back to Basics safety leadership program launched.

More information on our Workplace Health and Safety policies and strategy can be found here.
We report annually on the work we are doing to ensure continuous improvement in Workplace Health and Safety and you can read more here.

Our people are key to our success. Through our values, we empower our team to do what’s right for the customer, the business, the planet and each other, to deliver superior outcomes in a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Our Progress

0.3% narrowest gender pay gap when compared to the ASX 200 companies participating in WGEA’s inaugural gender pay gap report.
First Australian agribusiness to launch an Innovate level RAP.

More information on our culture, our values, inclusion & equity and our stories can be found here.
We report annually on the work we are doing to support a workplace where everyone can thrive. You can read more here.

Our success as a business is closely tied to the strength and vitality of rural and regional communities. Through the GrainCorp Community Foundation, we champion our communities by sponsoring and promoting events, projects, artworks and organisations.

Our Progress

55 Grants awarded.
119 Sponsorships.
174 Community groups supported.

FY25 Priorities

10% uplift (on FY24) on Community Leave by GrainCorp employees in FY25.
Encourage and channel employee Community Leave to support:
GrainCorp community partners; and
Local and regional interest groups.

As a company with processing operations and a large footprint of operational assets, our primary environmental impacts occur through our management of energy, emissions, water and waste.

Our Progress

FY24: 5% decrease in GHG emissions per tonne (tCO2‑e) across processing sites.
FY24: >95% of Dust and Damaged Grain diverted from landfill.

Our FY25 Priorities

Achieve a 10% reduction in FY25, in the waste-to-landfill rate across the ECA network, from an FY24 baseline.
Achieve a 2.5% energy efficiency improvement at West Footscray and Numurkah through targeted capital and continuous improvement projects.

We’re committed to building a climate‑focused mindset into all facets of our business to ensure we’re well-positioned to meet the challenges ahead.

Our Progress

Science-based emission reduction targets developed for Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions.
Accepted the feedstock representative role on the Federal Government’s Jet Zero Council, established to lead efforts in delivering net zero aviation in Australia.

Our FY25 Priorities

The actions we are taking to support the global ambition to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and to reach net zero by 2050 fall into three broad categories:

Reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of our operations – read more here
Connecting growers with global customers to develop solutions that strengthen the sustainability of Australian agriculture and support our customers’ transition to net‑zero – read more here
Developing agricultural opportunities that support the broader economy in the transition to a low‑carbon future – read more here

At GrainCorp, we are focused on the role we play in connecting growers with customers, to develop a mutual understanding of the risks and opportunities presented in a changing market.

Our Progress

Launched GrainCorp Next, a program to optimise GHG emission reduction across grain and canola supply chains.
Member of the Nature Positive Roundtable, convened by the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation.

Our FY25 Priorities

Embark on Phase 2 of GrainCorp Next.
Expand nature-related collaboration initiatives through the Nature Positive Roundtable and SAI Platform Australia.

We are focused on the positive impact our responsible sourcing program can have on our supply chains and our broader sustainability goals.

Our Progress

Modern slavery due diligence completed with suppliers in identified high-risk sectors and geographies.
Committed to No-Deforestation across primary deforestation-linked commodities by end of 2025.

Our FY25 Priorities

Expand GrainCorp’s high-risk supplier program to the next tier of risk.
Utilise a responsible sourcing evaluation framework to prioritise and implement targeted improvements.

Delivering safe, reliable, and nutritious ingredients to our customers, and ensuring the supply of essential commodities, is fundamental to our business.

Our Progress

ISCC PLUS certification achieved at our Numurkah crush plant.
One hundred per cent of suppliers to our Human Nutrition business maintain certification to a recognised food quality program.

Our FY25 Priorities

Develop nutritional guidelines and/or targets for relevant product portfolios.
Enhance existing packaging initiatives through the development of a Sustainable Packaging Framework for GNE.

“We Stay Safe” is one of GrainCorp’s core values, and reflects our enduring commitment to the safety of our people and the environment in which we operate.

Our Progress

FY24: 13.8% decrease in Recordable Injury Frequency Rate.
FY24: Back to Basics safety leadership program launched.

More information on our Workplace Health and Safety policies and strategy can be found here.
We report annually on the work we are doing to ensure continuous improvement in Workplace Health and Safety and you can read more here.

Our Progress

0.3% narrowest gender pay gap when compared to the ASX 200 companies participating in WGEA’s inaugural gender pay gap report.
First Australian agribusiness to launch an Innovate level RAP.

More information on our culture, our values, inclusion & equity and our stories can be found here.
We report annually on the work we are doing to support a workplace where everyone can thrive. You can read more here.

Our Progress

55 Grants awarded.
119 Sponsorships.
174 Community groups supported.

FY25 Priorities

10% uplift (on FY24) on Community Leave by GrainCorp employees in FY25.
Encourage and channel employee Community Leave to support:
GrainCorp community partners; and
Local and regional interest groups.

Sustainability Reports

Take a look at our Sustainability Reports to see how we are tracking.

GrainCorp Next

Our low carbon initiative

We’re working hand-in-hand with growers and partners across the supply chain to put theory into practice, reducing carbon emissions from paddock to plate.

Transparency and Governance

GrainCorp’s unique position in the Australian agriculture value chain creates a significant opportunity to drive best practice and change in sustainability and ESG.

The Board Sustainability Committee (BSC) is responsible for ensuring GrainCorp’s strategies, policies, culture and management leadership are appropriate to drive progress in sustainability.

The BSC comprises three of GrainCorp’s Non-executive Directors, including the Chair of the BSC, Clive Stiff.

The work of the BSC is supported by other Board committees, including the Audit and Risk Committee, the Remuneration and Nominations Committee and the Safety, Health and Environment Committee.

Together, they work closely with employees, investors and other key stakeholders to provide dedicated oversight of sustainability activities across the company.