The Western Australian Government has supported resumption of air freight of WA’s agrifood exports to Singapore, with a flight loaded with pork and beef having departed Perth yesterday.

About 10 per cent of the value of WA's annual agrifood exports is transported via air freight, worth $804.6 million in 2018-19, which is primarily dependent on cargo capacity available through commercial passenger flights.

Travel restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 have drastically reduced the number of passenger planes servicing Perth, and therefore agrifood cargo options.

The WA Government has committed up to $624,000 towards temporarily offsetting significantly increased air freight costs and supporting dedicated freight services ahead of the commencement of a broader Commonwealth air freight scheme.  More…  |  Related:  Resumption of agrifood air freight exports to Singapore | Source:  WA Minister for Agriculture & Food | Photo:  WA Agrifood Export eNews

Additional information is needed from those who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) before 14 April 2020 through the Federal Government's International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM).

Austrade and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) will use this extra information to decide which air freight routes are prioritised by the IFAM.

To register your interest in using the IFAM, please visit this website to make your EOI submission. This applies to exporters who had previously provided an EOI between 1 and 16 April 2020, as well as exporters who have yet to register their interest.

If you have any questions on exporting agricultural goods through the IFAM, please call DAWE on 02 6272 2444 or email freight.assistance@agriculture.gov.au.

Further details about the IFAM process, and how best for industry to engage, will be provided by Austrade shortly. 

For more information on general Austrade support for exports, please contact Jane Caforio (Austrade State Director - WA)  at jane.caforio@austrade.gov.au.  Source:  DPIRD  | Related:  Insight - Strong partnership ensures beef supply to China during COVID-19  Source:  Austrade | New air freight network to boost agricultural and fisheries exports Source: Federal Minister for Trade |  Photo: Hong Kong Airport

The Western Australian Government is investing $300,000 to support preliminary planning around a proposed agribusiness precinct near the Great Southern town of Mount Barker.

The Mount Barker district is well-known for producing a range of quality products, including free range poultry and pork.

The proposed Mount Barker AgriBusiness Precinct presents an opportunity to bring together agricultural processing and value-adding businesses to create local jobs.

DevelopmentWA will undertake the preliminary investigations into the precinct, to be based at the Yerriminup Industrial Area south of Mount Barker.  More…  Source: WA Minister for Regional Development  |  Photo:  DPIRD

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken Australia and the world by surprise. Coming after severe drought conditions in eastern Australia, concerns have been raised about Australian food security. These concerns are understandable, but misplaced, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

Despite temporary shortages of some food items in supermarkets caused by an unexpected surge in demand, Australia does not have a food security problem.  More…  | Related:  ABARES Insights: Analysis of Australian food security and the COVID-19 pandemic  |  Australian agricultural trade continues despite uncertainty  Source: ABARES  |  Australia does not have a food security problem: government report  Source: ABC News  |  UN: World on brink of 'a hunger pandemic'  Source:  Australian Financial Review [paid subscription] | Photo: ABARES

The Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry is  presenting a webinar series, which will discuss and provide a range of perspectives in support of business viability and growth in these challenging times.

Now, more than ever, your business needs insights and information to navigate the challenges and opportunities that are being faced in light of the global outbreak of COVID-19.

For today's webinar (23 April 2020, 1-2 pm AWST, 3-4 AEST), Dalene Wray, Managing Director of OBE Organic Group and Shaun Woods of C.T. Freight Pty Ltd, take part in a question and answer session about how the movement of goods is being affected by COVID-19 and the impact this is having on businesses.  More...  Source:  AACCI  |  Photo:  Austrade