Survey explores Great Southern food growth
Growth potential for the Great Southern region’s value-add food sector is the focus of a survey report released by the department’s Food Industry Innovation (FII) project in partnership with Regional Development Australia (RDA) Great Southern.
The 2016 Survey of Food Production and Processing in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia report, was launched on 27 July at Wilson Brewing Company in Albany to coincide with the release of the Premium Agrifood Market Opportunity report.
About 45 industry stakeholders attended the event to hear about the region’s existing value-add food production and processing activities, and opportunities for the local industry to expand into domestic and export markets.
The agriculture sector dominates the Great Southern region both in production value and employment numbers. However, the majority of food produced in the region is currently exported in its raw form with no value-adding.
The FII project is committed to growing the value of the state’s agrifood sector by identifying opportunities to value-add to WA’s abundant raw product. This requires a detailed understanding of the current and future capacity of regional food production and processing.
Of all agricultural sectors covered by the survey, five were identified as having additional development potential: dairy, brewing and distilling, aquaculture, salmon processing, and fruit and berry production.
To read a full copy of the report visit: RDA Great Southern WA.