The Rural Economies Centre of Excellence (RECoE) is a joint research initiative between the Queensland Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the University of Southern Queensland, The University of Queensland, Central Queensland University and James Cook University. The Centre has been established to assist rural economic development and diversification centred on the agricultural food and fibre value chain and related regional industries. The emphasis is on entrepreneurship, technological development, and new models of business and marketing. Our collaboration involves expert economic analysis and econometrics, business expertise and networks, and close engagement and partnership with a wide range of regional and rural economic stakeholders.