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14 January 2025
Western Australian
agrifood export eNews
The Western Australia Government is helping food and beverage businesses across the state to cultivate success through $7.08 million in Value Add Investment Grants.
Eight Western Australian businesses have benefited from the latest round of capital investment funding, which will support expansion, new product lines and more staff.
The Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community, south of Broome, will use its $1 million grant to install four blast cool rooms to extend the shelf life and freshness of its watermelons, paving the way to increase production by 400 per cent. The investment will also help the business move into rockmelon production, creating 15 new jobs.
The Ord River District Co-operative (ORDCO), near Kununurra, will use a $750,000 grant to upgrade its stockfeed plant to grow the business, as the Kimberley Cotton Company’s gin comes online this year.
The project will help ORDCO to expand its offerings of blended grain rations and increase the plant’s production to 25,000 tonnes per year. This will build resilience in the northern cattle industry, as well as create 4 new jobs and opportunities for local businesses during the construction phase.
AAA Egg Company, west of Gingin, will invest its $1 million grant in state-of-the-art machinery to diversify into value-added products, including egg whites and yolks, as well as scrambled and hard-boiled eggs for the food service, catering and manufacturing industry.
These grants have spearheaded projects that might not otherwise have been possible, leveraging a further $262 million in private sector investment and generating an estimated 191 new jobs across the State.
For more information on Value Add Investment Grants and a full list of recipients, click here.
Source and image: WA Gov
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Source and image: DPIRD
The Federal Government is continuing to support Aussie farmers with cost of living relief and enhanced productivity, with an additional $20 million investment in a new round of the hugely successful On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP).
The Government’s flagship ag-tech grants program was informed by the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review that found connectivity gaps were impacting the uptake of technology solutions by primary producers.
Previous OFCP rounds have provided rebates of up to 50 per cent for eligible equipment and technology – worth up to $30,000 – for farmers to implement smarter, better connected, more sustainable farming solutions.
Thousands of farmers have taken advantage of this innovative program to date, enhancing on-farm connectivity to monitor activity with real-time data, improve safety and increase productivity on their farms.
These ag-tech solutions are assisting farmers to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, automate tank systems and safeguard farming equipment and supplies.
Round 3 will open for applications later in 2025, with grant funding to be delivered in 2025-26.
Ahead of Round 3 opening for applications, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will review the grant guidelines and processes to ensure the program is optimising opportunities for farmers and best addressing connectivity gaps.
For more information on the OFCP, visit the webpage.
Source: Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure | Image: CountryNews
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Source and image: Asialink
The Australian sheep meat industry has been experiencing consistent growth in recent years, which is expected to continue into 2025. The gross value of Australian sheep meat is set to rise to more than $5 billion in 2024–25, the highest number in more than 10 years.
Overall, Australian sheep meat production volumes are forecast to rise by 3% to 942 thousand tonnes (carcass weight) in 2024–25 as a result of higher slaughter volumes. In particular, lamb production is forecast to rise to a record high 654 thousand tonnes in 2024–25. This is expected to be accompanied by an increased processing capacity for lamb production. Mutton production is expected to rise by 9% to 288 thousand tonnes in 2024–25.
There is sustained demand for Australian sheep meat domestically and internationally. Australia’s domestic market remains the largest single market for sheep meat. The domestic market consumes approximately 35% of Australia’s total sheep meat production. Of this, Australian consumer preference is strongly in favour of lamb, which accounts for 95% of domestic distribution.
Meanwhile, internationally, Australia is the world’s largest exporter of sheep meat both by volume and value as of 2023. Sheep meat has surpassed wool as the most valuable export of Australia’s sheep industry as of 2019–20. Global demand for sheep meat, and specifically Australia’s world-renowned high quality sheep meat exports, has been trending upwards and is expected to continue on that same trajectory. Demand from the Middle East for both lamb and mutton has increased over the last 10 years to become Australia’s largest regional export destination for sheep meat by volume, and this is expected to continue in 2024–25. In addition, Australia’s top sheep meat export markets also include China, South-East Asia, and growing markets in the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Source and image: DAFF
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), 2024.
