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19 August 2025
Western Australian
agrifood export eNews
This is a final call to ensure your business is included in the next edition of the WA Exporter Directory, to be released later this year.
Inclusion in the Directory is extremely important if you are a WA agrifood exporter. The Directory is regularly featured in WA Government communications and promotions - emails, posts, showcases, presentations, etc. – about WA food and beverage suppliers and capabilities, beyond being featured on the DPIRD website
Even if your business is already in the current 2023 edition of the Directory, you still need to verify and update your details for the new edition. There are several new fields of information in the new edition that require your attention.
Final Register by Monday, 25 August 2025. Click here to renew or add your business listing in the WA Exporter Directory now.
If you wish to provide any feedback related to this decision, please send email to export@dpird.wa.gov.au
Source and image: DPIRD
Small Business Growth Grant program now open for applications
Small businesses play a vital role in Western Australia’s economy and local communities. There are more than 247,000 small businesses contributing to the economy and communities across Western Australia.
The WA Government is recognising this contribution through a $1 million investment in the Small Business Growth Grant program in 2025. The Small Business Growth Grants will provide matched funding towards business growth investments for eligible businesses that have been established for 18 months or longer.
Vouchers of up to $10,000 can be applied to a range of specialist services including but not limited to specialist business planning, business financial planning, marketing and procurement.
Applications are now open with eligibility criteria and information available at Small Business Development Corporation website.
Source and image: smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
After more than 10 years of preparation work, the Kimberley Cotton Gin in Kununurra has officially opened with the project expected to create more than 1000 jobs over the next decade in a new “billion-dollar industry” in WA’s north.
The Kimberley Cotton Gin has the $60 million facility, owned by Kimberley Cotton Company — a consortium of local growers and Traditional Owners — will process up to 100,000 bales a year and run on 100 per cent renewable hydro power from Pac Hydro’s Lake Argyle generation system.
The WA Government has invested $9 million to enable the project, including $5 million through the WA Investment Attraction Fund and $4 million to provide land and a renewable power supply for the high-tech processing facility.
The project has also been supported by a $34 million loan through the Commonwealth Government's Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.
The State Government-backed WA Agricultural Research Collaboration will be driving research to explore the use of cotton and other irrigated crop by-products as livestock feed to add further value to the Kimberley economy.
Source: WA Gov | Image: DPIRD
Margaret River leads way with lightweight wine bottles
The Margaret River Wine Association (MRWA) has launched its new Lightweight Glass Packaging Charter – a region-first initiative aimed at tackling one of the industry’s most significant sources of carbon emissions: glass packaging.
According to Wine Australia, wine packaging accounts for 44 percent of emissions associated with wine production from grape to end-of-life packaging. Wineries that make the simple and impactful switch to lightweight glass can be part of the solution by helping reduce these emissions by over 20 percent.
Unveiled in early 2025, the charter already includes seven wineries as full signatories using lightweight bottles across their production, including Pierro Wines (which has used lightweight glass since 2012), Evans & Tate (since 2019), and La Kooki (since 2021).
Wine Australia identified reducing glass weight as one of three key strategies in its 2023 Emissions Reduction Roadmap, which outlines a projected 42 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, with lightweight glass playing a central role in achieving that goal.
Although Margaret River accounts for only two percent of Australia’s wine grapes, the region’s 175 wineries collectively produce around 30 million bottles of wine each year. MRWA estimates that switching the entire region to lightweight glass could save approximately 3,000 tonnes of glass annually.
Source: WBM | Photo: Margaret River Wine Association
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) is the proud Gold Sponsor of the Regional Exporter Award at the 63rd Australian Export Awards scheduled for 26 November 2025. It's committed to supporting Australian exporters to succeed. Here are DAFF's top 5 tips to help you strengthen your export strategies and manage risks effectively.
1. Understand your market and regulatory landscape
Before entering a new market, it’s essential to understand the importing country’s rules. DAFF’s Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICOR) outlines what you need to export Australian agricultural products.
2. Use export documentation systems
Accurate and timely documentation is essential for smooth export operations.
DAFF’s EXDOC system helps manage export permits and government-issued certificates for products like meat, dairy, fish, and horticulture. It ensures your goods meet importing country requirements. It also ensures goods are traceable through the supply chain. Using these systems reduces the risk of delays, rejections, or compliance breaches.
3. Stay alert to biosecurity risks and market changes
Export conditions can shift quickly due to:
- emerging pests
- disease outbreaks
- changes in importing country requirements.
Stay informed through DAFF’s alert systems, and tools like BICON which help you respond pro-actively.
4. Diversify your export markets
Relying on a single market can leave your business vulnerable to:
- sudden regulatory changes
- trade disruptions
- shifting demand.
Exploring new markets helps spread risk and uncover new growth opportunities.
Tools like Austrade's Go Global Toolkit Market search tool and DAFF’s trade updates can help you find emerging opportunities. They can also help you understand the requirements for market entry.
5. Stay informed and engage with DAFF
Export conditions and requirements can change quickly. Subscribe to DAFF’s export advisory notices to make sure you’re across the latest updates.
Staying informed helps you act early and avoid compliance issues or costly delays.
Source: business.gov.au | Image: Shutterstock
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.
Subscribe to Western Australian Agrifood Export eNews.
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), 2025.
