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13 January 2026
Western Australian agrifood export eNews
Serving up major business growth for WA food and beverage businesses!
Applications are open for the enhanced WA Food and Beverage Domestic Market Pathways Program 2026. The program will give participants invaluable insights and tools to expand their sales within Australia.
Led by industry experts, the program provides a deep dive into market expansion opportunities, including potential access to key buyers from both WA and the eastern states. Networking and relationship building are emphasised, allowing participants to connect with fellow food and beverage manufacturers also seeking business growth.
Participants will receive guidance on navigating the process of having their products stocked by major retailers. The program will address concerns about costs and price increases, and detail how to effectively pitch to buyers. One-on-one meetings with consultants are included to assist with business growth. Participants will also learn about the different areas and the opportunities in the food service channel.
Program Details
Participants will go through 4 phases:
- Phase 1: Masterclass & 1-on-1 consultations for businesses to understand the current market and how their business fits within market.
- Phase 2: Pricing review and pitch deck workshop & 1-on-1 consultations for businesses to develop competitive pricing and pitch deck built for your audience.
- Phase 3: Pitching and buyer preparations will occur with our industry experts to get businesses ready for buyer meetings.
- Phase 4: Key distributor/retailer introductions and presentations will be arranged for businesses to develop key industry relationships for future business.
All participants must complete the previous stage to advance to the next stage. It is not required that participants complete all phases if they feel the program is not for their business.
Applications close 5pm 30 January 2026.
Source: DPIRD | Image: iStock (relif)
The GRDC National Grower Network Summer Sesh is coming back to Western Australia this month!
These in-person sessions bring grain growers together to talk openly about opportunities and challenges facing the industry, with food and refreshments provided.
This year’s program features two speakers:
- Andrew Whitelaw, Co-Founder of Episode 3, who will share insights into global market volatility and what it means for Australian agriculture and the WA grain sector.
- Dr David Stephens of Agrometeorology Australia will present on recent gains in wheat, barley and canola water use efficiency, and the key drivers behind those improvements across the wheatbelt.
Dates and locations
- Albany – Monday 19 January
- Busselton – Tuesday 20 January
- Dongara – Thursday 22 January
Attendance is free, but registration is essential.
Online GRDC Grains Research Update – the importance of clean seed – a barley loose smut and wheat flag smut update is also available for registration now.
Join Andrea Hills and Jason Bradley, DPIRD WA for an essential update on the growing challenge of smut diseases in cereal production. This presentation will explore the importance of starting each season with clean seed and provide the latest insights on barley loose smut and wheat flag smut. Attendees will gain practical, research-driven guidance on disease identification, seed hygiene, and effective management strategies to minimise carry-over into future crops.
Date: Wednesday 28 January 2026
Time: 1:00 – 1:45pm (AEDT)
Source and image: GRDC
evokeAG. 2026 – Invest. Innovate. Impact.
Get ready for Australia’s premier agrifood innovation showcase - evokeAG. 2026, taking place 17–18 February 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hosted by AgriFutures Australia, this two-day event brings together:
- 60 plus visionary speakers.
- A range of breakout sessions on AI, climate resilience, producer-led innovation, policy, and systems design.
- A Startup Alley and Australian Landing pad, spotlighting 40 of the most innovative agrifood tech startups and scaleups, tackling critical challenges with groundbreaking technology.
evokeAG. is where agriculture meets climate-smart innovation, production, technology, investment, and policy - uniting farmers, researchers, investors, corporates, startups, and policymakers under one roof.
Why Should I Attend?
- Discover groundbreaking solutions: drone mustering, biomaterials, AI in agriculture, carbon-negative farming.
- Hear from producers-turned-innovators and connect with investors, leaders, and global partners.
- evokeAG. is a fantastic opportunity for Western Australian stakeholders to join the ecosystem and make new connections.
More Info & Tickets
- Official event site: evokeAG 2026
- Program details: evokeAG 2026 Program
Source: DPIRD | Image: evokeAG.
The Australian Government is demonstrating its commitment to strengthening fairness and transparency across Australia’s wine and grape sector, with its decision to introduce a new mandatory Code of Conduct for Wine Grape Purchases (the code).
The code will commence on 1 January 2027 and will establish a clear framework for how wine grapes are bought and sold. Across 2026, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) will finalise the details of the code in consultation with winegrape growers and winemakers.
Once in place, the code will apply to large winemakers in their dealings with growers, setting clear expectations around good-faith negotiations and fair, reasonable conduct. By embedding minimum standards across the sector, the code will help level the playing field, support grower viability and provide greater confidence for investment and long-term planning.
This announcement follows the recommendations of Dr Craig Emerson’s independent review of the wine and grape sector, which highlighted the need for stronger safeguards amid ongoing global market pressures and volatility. The code responds directly to those findings, aiming to deliver more balanced and transparent trading arrangements.
This reform represents an important step toward securing the future resilience and sustainability of Australia’s wine and grape industry, ensuring it remains strong, competitive and trusted at home and abroad.
Source: DAFF | Image: iStock (wilpunt)
Fruit harvesting is set to reach new heights in Western Australia, as a trial of a new concept multi-function tree management platform commences to support the adoption of technology driven Narrow Orchard Systems.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) purchased the electric powered Frucotec™ Berglady platform, which enables two people to safely harvest and work on trees at height, instead of using ladders.
The new acquisition adds to the suite of equipment and smart technologies being tested at DPIRD’s Narrow Orchard Systems research and demonstration site at its Manjimup Horticulture Research Institute.
The DPIRD trial will inform the five year national Narrow Orchard Systems for Future Climates Hort Innovation project, along with other states, universities and industry, including Pomewest.
DPIRD fruit and perennial crops lead Dario Stefanelli said the department would examine how the platform could help improve orchard efficiencies, safety and sustainability.
The project has been also exploring the use of an autonomous sprayer, light detection and ranging technology or cameras, plant and soil moisture sensors and developing an open-source dashboard for easy data collection.
Source and image: WA Gov & DPIRD
Further information
Agribusiness, commercial fishing and aquaculture news from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). If you have any questions or information to share, please email export@dpird.wa.gov.au.
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Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2026.
