Why WA needs the Food Industry Innovation project
Agribusiness expansion is one of the most promising sectors of the Western Australian economy and growth of the premium food sector could have large-scale impacts on the state's export value.
WA’s climate and high standard of food production give our state a unique opportunity to produce and export premium food products that are highly regarded.
With world food trade undergoing significant change and increasing demand from affluent Asian and Middle Eastern countries for safe, premium food products, there is very real opportunity for growth in WA’s agrifood sector.
However it has been identified that for many regional operators working alone, capturing these markets is difficult and opportunities are being missed.
The state government wants to support local agrifood businesses find new domestic and international markets and enhance their long-term viability through the Food Industry Innovation project.
The overall goal of the project, being delivered by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is to identify opportunities and maximise benefits for WA by equipping the regional agrifood sector to become more competitive, innovative and profitable.
Due to the sheer size of the state, regional food operators can be constrained by limited business collaboration opportunities, a lack of market analysis resources and insufficient regional infrastructure.
This project has established two new food centres to address these constraints; the Western Australian Premium Food Centre and the Specialised Food Centre.
The Western Australian Premium Food Centre will be launched in Manjimup in early October, assisting WA businesses who are producing premium food products to capture identified domestic and international market opportunities. The project will assist businesses who are planning to upscale and co-ordinate production methods and enhance their promotional material. The Western Australian Premium Food Centre will consider opportunities for organic and low input producers and processers.
The Specialised Food Centre is based in Albany and focuses on a broad range of agrifood businesses operating across the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions. The aim is to determine the current and future potential of food production in the region and bring businesses together to collaborate and reduce costs by sharing knowledge, skills, technology and infrastructure.
The Food Industry Innovation project will work with a range of partners throughout WA to transform agrifood businesses and the regions into preferred suppliers of premium quality products.
Growth in the premium food sector will ultimately bring flow-on benefits to other businesses, tourism and employment in regional areas throughout the state.
WA’s agrifood products are valued at $20 billion at retail and export levels and WA’s food manufacturing industry comprises around 1 200 businesses.
The Food Industry Innovation project forms part of the state government’s priorities to double the value of agriculture by 2025.
For more information contact: Kim Antonio, Project Manager, Food Industry Innovation
Phone +61 (0)8 9368 3676, mobile +61 (0)400 614 328 or email foodindustryinnovation@agric.wa.gov.au