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Another 80 Western Australian agrifood and beverage businesses are set to take their operations to the next level through the WA Government's Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Program.
This long-running initiative provides small-to-medium food and beverage operators across regional and metropolitan WA with access to expert advice, helping them build capability and drive growth.
In this latest round, 100 vouchers worth more than $680,000 will be shared among a diverse range of businesses, including those in meat processing, bakery, wine, spirits, honey, pasta, pre-packed meals, probiotics, juice, ice cream and food supplements.
Since 2018, the program has issued more than 436 vouchers valued at $2.4 million, leveraging over $3.38 million in business co-investment. This round alone will generate more than $884,000 in co-contributions, supporting projects in business planning, manufacturing for growth, sales and marketing, and environmental sustainability.
Recipients have used vouchers to improve production efficiencies, develop new product lines, create distribution channels and access new markets - strengthening WA's reputation for quality and innovation.
A full list of recipients can be viewed at DPIRD website.
Source and image: WA Gov & DPIRD
The Building Better Aboriginal Business Supply Chain Voucher supports Aboriginal-owned businesses to build strong, sustainable practices and good governance so they can be competitive in Western Australia’s bush foods, bush products, seafood and beef industries. It provides an opportunity for Aboriginal businesses to:
- increase their representation and ownership across industries
- build sustainable businesses on Country through harvesting, developing and selling bushfood products
- highlight their unique knowledge, stories and connection to Country and food sources
- lead the way in the development, use and commercialisation of unique foods
- ensure bushfoods are developed, used, and commercialised in a culturally appropriate, respectful, and sustainable way
- ensure benefits are returned to Country so it is protected and nurtured.
Tailored support is required to empower both emerging and expanding Aboriginal businesses across WA working in bushfoods, bush products, seafood and beef industries.
The vouchers are available to Aboriginal-owned businesses to fund services and activities of up to $10,000 (excluding GST) per applicant business, paid directly to the nominated service provider(s). Funding is available until program funds are exhausted.
Applications close on 30 March 2026. Before applying, applicants must contact Aboriginal Bushfood Business Service Senior Project Officer Nikita Procter via 0409 857 513 or email bushfoodbusiness@dpird.wa.gov.au to confirm eligibility prior to submitting an application.
Source and image: DPIRD
The World Steak Challenge is a globally recognised meat competition that gold, silver and bronze medals to the highest-scoring beef cuts, judged blind by panels of experienced chefs, butchers and industry experts on both raw and cooked criteria.
Three homegrown Australian beef producers claimed the winner’s titles in three out of the seven cut categories of this year’s World Steak Challenge, the results of which were announced last month at a glittering ceremony at London’s Smyth and Wollensky.
The results cement Australia’s standing as a world-leading producer of the finest steaks, showcasing its quality and consistent excellence on the global stage.
Overall, Australian Wagyu producers delivered a masterclass in beef excellence achieving 14 out of the 24 Gold Medals awarded in the Wagyu category.
Reaffirming its reputation as a global leader in Wagyu and premium beef production, Australia also once again led all nations in the number of gold medals overall, with 26 steaks awarded Gold across the competition - the highest tally of any country for a second year.
The World’s Best Grain Fed Fillet was awarded to an Australian Eye Fillet from 2GR Wagyu Beef. The World’s Best Grain Fed Sirloin award went to an Australian Wagyu Cross from Pardoo Wagyu Corporation. The World’s Best Wagyu was awarded to last year’s overall competition winner Jack’s Creek for its Grain fed Purebred Wagyu Sirloin.
Among the standout winners hailing from Australia, Pardoo Wagyu secured four Gold Medals across multiple Wagyu cuts including Fillet, Ribeye, Sirloin and the Wagyu category in the blind and independently judged competition.
Aussie Wagyu the facts:
- Over 85% of Australian Wagyu is exported globally each year from its 300,000 strong herd.
- Australia is the second largest Wagyu producer in the world, second only to Japan.
- Australia is the largest Wagyu exporter in the world with over 67,000 tonnes exported globally each year.
- Australian Wagyu ranges from F1 to fullblood, all derived from 100% Japanese blood.
- Australian Wagyu ranges from F1 Wagyu to Fullblood Wagyu, with over 70% of Australian Wagyu being crossbred (F1–F3), and the remaining 30% Fullblood or Purebred (F4+).
- F1 Wagyu (first cross, 50%) refers to Wagyu Fullblood x Angus - the dominant crossbreed in Australia. Fullblood Wagyu is derived from 100% Japanese genetics.
Source and image: Aussie Beef & Lamb (ABL) & World Steak Challenge
Entries are now open for the prestigious 2026 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards that have been designed to recognise not only innovative packaging design, but also outstanding packaging professionals who are making a significant difference in their field in Australia and New Zealand. What makes the PIDA awards program unique is that it is not only industry-led but is the Exclusive Entry point for the WorldStar Packaging Awards for Australia & New Zealand. Only winners from the PIDA awards can enter the WorldStar Packaging Awards each year.
Coordinated by the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the 2026 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards offer recognition across 16x categories and has a sole purpose of recognising innovative and intuitive packaging and the talented people who make up the wider industry. Receiving a PIDA Award is the pinnacle recognition for any company and individual in the industry in Australia & New Zealand.
2026 PIDA Categories include:
The Design Innovation of the Year company awards will recognise organisations that have designed innovative packaging within each of these six manufacturing categories:
- Food
- Beverage
- Health, Beauty & Wellness
- Domestic & Household
- Labelling & Decoration
- Outside of the Box
There are four special awards available and three awards designed for people who have made specific contributions to the packaging industry.
In addition, there are three scholarships available, with two supported by the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA).
The winners of the PIDA Awards will be announced on the 28th of July at a gala awards dinner at the Crown Aviary, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The 2026 PIDA Awards will be held alongside of Foodpro 2026, the largest food and beverage tradeshow in the ANZ region. The 2026 finalists and winners will also be showcased inside of the FoodPro halls.
Entries close on Friday, 27 February 2026 and all nominations for awards must be submitted via the online platform.
Source and image: AIP
Australia has officially broken the record for the highest volume of beef exported in a calendar year, with year-to-date exports reaching 1.398 million tonnes, up 15% year-on-year.
This milestone reflects broad-based global demand for high-quality Australian red meat and the strength of the industry’s domestic productive capacity.
The United States remains Australia’s largest beef export destination, with 412,068 tonnes shipped so far this year, up 17% YoY. This growth is particularly significant given the implementation of a 10% tariff on Australian exports including beef, which has since been removed.
While the tariff was in place, Australian beef exports remained strong and resilient due to exceptionally strong US demand and exacerbated by historically low domestic beef production. This demonstrates the premium positioning of Australian beef and the willingness of US buyers to pay for quality.
Japan and Korea continued to deliver steady demand, up 2% and 10% YoY respectively, while other markets across Asia and the Middle East also contributed to the record-breaking year.
Grainfed beef exports also hit a record, totalling 403,860 tonnes, an increase of 19% year-on-year, underscoring the premium positioning of Australian grainfed beef internationally.
In addition to beef, goatmeat exports have set a new all-time record, with 54,699 tonnes shipped year-to-date, up 16%. November 2025 was the biggest month ever for goatmeat exports, with 5,923 tonnes exported globally.
Goatmeat plays an increasingly important role in Australia’s red meat portfolio, particularly in meeting the needs of diverse consumer bases across North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
Its versatility and alignment with cultural preferences make it a key growth category, helping Australian producers tap into expanding global protein demand.
According to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) General Manager for International Markets, Andrew Cox, the record-breaking results highlight the competitiveness of Australian red meat on the global stage.
Source and image: MLA
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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Note: the next issue will be published after the Christmas/ New Year break, on 6 January 2026.
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.
