Australian Bureau of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment, the

Mission

Formerly Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, ABARE, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences is a research organisation within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. ABARES was formed following the merger of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) and the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) in 2010. Both ABARE and BRS had a strong history in contributing to private and public sector decision-making through their research, analysis and statistical collections. ABARE’s history dates back 65 years (from 1945) and BRS’s 24 years (from 1986). ABARES will continue to provide the professionally independent economic and scientific analysis previously undertaken by ABARE and BRS. It will also provide a third capability of integrated socio-economic and biophysical analysis necessary to address the difficult policy issues facing Australia’s primary industries today and into the future. Importantly, the new organisation will retain the professional independence that has long been a feature of the work of ABARE and BRS. For example, the new organisation will continue to publish research for decision-makers covering the full gamut of policy options and will be available to undertake research funded by external parties, as has occurred in the past. At the same time, ABARES plans to forge a stronger future and make new services publicly available. Its mission is to to provide professionally independent, world-class research, analysis and advice for government and private sector decision-makers on significant issues affecting Australia’s primary industries.