The Territory’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector produces clean, safe and natural products in pristine environments and continues to grow through expansion and diversification.
Key insights of agribusiness opportunities
596,312km2
pastoral leases in the Territory
2,500km2
average pastoral lease in the Territory
8,000
average head of cattle in an average pastoral lease
444,750
head of live cattle left the Territory in 2021-2022
200 nautical miles
the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone from the Territory coastline
5,500 tonnes
fish and marine life exported in 2021/2022
11,000km
of coastline which supports a diverse array of fisheries and aquaculture opportunities
55.65%
of Australia’s mangoes supplied from the Territory
4.4 million
mango trays 2021-2022
The Territory’s Landscape
- 596,312km2 pastoral leases in the Territory
- Abundance of natural resources
- high solar irradiances
- excellent water resources
- suitable and diverse soils across the Territory
- Strict biosecurity management.
Top End Region including Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield: higher rainfall suitable for tropical crops.
Big Rivers and Barkly regions: semi-arid and suitable for a range of irrigated and rain-fed crops.
Central Australia: low humidity and low temperatures suitable for vegetable, fruit, crops and fodder.
Beef cattle production
Cattle operations in the Territory are generally large scale and sophisticated, with herd sizes averaging more than 8,000 head grazing mainly large tracts of native rangeland pastures. Total cattle numbers tend to range between 1.8 and 2.4 million head, depending on environmental conditions, with turnoff exceeding 600,000 head annually.
The Territory seeks to lift productivity of Northern Territory cattle herds.
Pristine marine environments
The Territory is acknowledged globally as having one of the most pristine marine environments in the world.
The Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends for up to 200 nautical miles from the Territory coastline.
- 5,500 tonnes of fish and marine life exported in 2021/2022
- 10,953km of coastline which supports a diverse array of fisheries and aquaculture opportunities.
Largest producer of mangoes in Australia
- 55.65% of Australia’s mangoes supplied from the Territory
- Over 4.4 million trays to markets in the 2021-2022 season.
The Territory is a substantial producer and supplier of high-quality, melons and Asian vegetables to domestic and international markets. Increasing demand from Asian markets for tropical fruits has provided opportunities for investors to further develop the horticultural industry.
Forestry
42,000 hectares of the Territory is currently used to produce forestry products in managed plantations.
Marine Industry Park
A marine and offshore industries servicing hub for northern Australia located in Darwin.
Darwin Ship Lift Facility
The Darwin ship lift facility will service the needs of the general maritime sector within the Asia Pacific region and long-term needs of the defence sector.
Major project status
Local Jobs Fund
Territory Infrastructure Loans
National Reconstruction Fund Corporation
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility
Export Finance Australia
Headland Food Group
Headland Food Group has accessed 2 business concessional loans through the Local Jobs Fund.
NT Farmers cotton gin study
The Local Jobs Fund allowed NT Farmers Association to explore the viability of building the Northern Territory’s first cotton gin.
Western Davenport Community Infrastructure Study
NT Farmers has received support via a Priority Sector Collaborative Grant from the Local Jobs Fund (LJF) for $100,000 (plus GST). The funds are required to develop studies for a masterplan for a community precinct in the Western Davenport region to support a new agricultural/horticultural precinct, which will be the subject of the second application submitted to the LJF.
Western Davenport Farm and Power Infrastructure Study
A consortium of Western Davenport businesses has received approval for funding from the Local Jobs Fund via a Priority Sector Collaborative Grant.
Farming investor set to develop major agribusiness precinct
National farming investor Duxton Farms has been awarded Wildman land for a new agribusiness project.
Quarterly Investment Bulletin
Welcome to Investment Territory’s Quarterly Bulletin, providing the insights, project updates and progress from Australia's Northern Territory.
Territory leads tropical oyster research
Blacklip Rock Oyster farming is an emerging industry in the Northern Territory.
Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage
SMEC Australia has been awarded the contract to deliver the final concept design for the Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage project (AROWS).
Vocus’ Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable lights up
Vocus’ Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable (DJSC) system is a major leap forward in Australia's global connectivity, bridging the digital divide and unlocking new opportunities for growth, innovation, and development in the Northern Territory.
Middle Arm creating jobs through hydrogen
One of the 5 proponents working to call the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct home, is in Darwin this week to progress work on its project in the precinct.
Find out more
Northern Territory agribusiness 2030 strategy
The strategy highlights the Territory Governments commitment to growing the livestock, horticulture, broad acre cropping, fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Open data portals
Access a broad range of government data, including geoscientific information, land systems and soil assessments.
Development opportunities
For high priority horticultural development areas, land and water study information.