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27 January 2026
Western Australian agrifood export eNews
Be part of the biggest FHA in a decade
21-24 April 2026 | Singapore Expo
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), in collaboration with the Invest and Trade WA ASEAN office, invite you to participate on the Western Australian premium food and beverage stand at the Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) Singapore 2026.
The Western Australian stand will comprise a fully fitted 54 sqm stand within the Australian Pavilion located in the Hall 8 of Singapore EXPO convention centre, offering WA agribusinesses with the rare opportunity to showcase their produce under the Western Australian and national brand.
DPIRD will cover the cost of the stand and a government representative to provide support on-stand during the Expo. By participating you will have a great opportunity to:
- Showcase your products to state-owned enterprises, importers, traders, distributors and regional sub-distributors, online and offline retailers
- Promote your products under the Western Australian and Australia’s Nation Brand
- Receive networking support from the WA Invest and Trade team
- Raise your brand awareness and reach out to broad business communities through social media platforms in Singapore
- Participate in selected Australian government programs at FHA.
Expressions of Interest are now open and will close at 5:00 pm, Friday 13 February 2026.
Register your interest through the link here. If your business is deemed eligible, a formal registration form will follow to confirm your participation.
Any enquiries can be directed to Jack Cook, A/Principal Trade Consultant jack.cook@dpird.wa.gov.au
Source: DPIRD | Image: FHA 2026
Free emissions reports help food and beverage manufacturers improve efficiency
WA agrifood and beverage manufacturers are invited to participate in the Energy Snapshot Study, a new DPIRD initiative to measure energy use, emissions and improve energy efficiency across the sector.
Launched last week and running until mid-April, the study will establish a clear picture of emissions sources and energy profiles across food and beverage subsectors – from dairy, seafood and meat processing, to beverages, baked goods, and packaged foods.
Businesses can take part by completing a confidential survey to gain insights into sector emissions and identify opportunities and barriers to emissions reduction.
Participating businesses receive several free benefits including:
- a personalised emissions benchmark report from RSM Australia, outlining how your business compares to
others in the industry.
- a WA food and beverage manufacturing insights report, including study findings, future industry opportunities, industry emissions benchmarks.
- an exclusive invitation to the industry launch event, to present the study findings and an opportunity to network with industry peers.
- a carbon footprint report (limited number available)
Eligible businesses can apply for assistance to calculate their carbon footprint. Worth several thousand dollars in the commercial marketplace, these reports include insights and recommendations to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs.
The initiative will inform DPIRD in the development of future programs and initiatives to support businesses become more energy efficient, competitive and resilient.
Find out more about the Energy Snapshot Study and complete the 10–15-minute survey on DPIRD website.
Source and image: DPIRD
The Australian Government continues to support the Australian sheep industry seize new trade opportunities, with $3.6 million in grants to pave the way for farmers, particularly in Western Australia, to supply the rapidly growing global demand for sheepmeat.
Twelve projects under the $27 million Enhancing Market Demand program will support diversifying exports of Australian agricultural and food products, particularly to the Middle East and North Africa region.
This includes focusing on increasing demand and sales of sheepmeat at home and abroad as the phase out of live sheep exports by sea progresses, ensuring Australian farmers benefit from the trade of high-quality and ethically produced food and fibre.
Recipients include industry peak bodies such as Australian Meat Industry Council and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd; agricultural consultants, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of WA and research organisations such as Charles Sturt University, University of Technology Sydney and Griffith University.
These organisations will work with Australian sheep, agriculture, food and fibre industries on active and emerging market opportunities, and will assist farmers, producers and exporters to build stronger business-to-business relationships.
The live sheep export by sea industry was worth $411 million in 2002-03 and declined to $50 million in 2024-25. Sheep meat exports grew to be worth $5.7 billion in 2024-25.
The funding is part of the Australian Government’s almost $140 million transition assistance package to help the Australian sheep industry phase out live sheep exports by sea.
Source and image: DAFF
Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, is calling on Australia’s farm and food innovators to apply for its latest Innovate to Grow program — helping small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) turn big ideas into research-driven solutions.
The free, eight-week online program is designed to help SMEs turn early ideas into clear R&D plans, build innovation capability and connect with the right research expertise — empowering them to seize new opportunities and reduce risk.
Dr Ingrid Appelqvist, Senior Principal Food Material Scientist at CSIRO, said the program comes at a pivotal time for the sector as new digital, biological and advanced manufacturing technologies reshape Australia's food system.
"We're seeing rapid transformation across farm and food technology, including advances in areas like AI and process digitisation," Dr Appelqvist said.
"SMEs play an important role in this transformation, but many are still navigating how to progress early-stage ideas, reduce risk and access the right expertise. Innovate to Grow gives them the tools, networks and confidence to turn emerging opportunities into well-defined R&D pathways."
"From sustainability and waste optimisation to new value-add products and more resilient supply chains, Australian food and agriculture businesses are well-positioned to lead — and programs like this help them get there."
Since launching in 2020, CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow has supported more than 750 SMEs across a range of sectors. The program provides participants with expert facilitators, self-paced learning modules and networking opportunities to turn emerging ideas into actionable research plans.
CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Farm and Food Technology is suitable for SMEs developing or supplying solutions in:
- Agritech and AI
- Food and beverage manufacturing, packaging and transport
- Livestock and aquaculture
- Value-add products
- Waste optimisation and recycling
- Energy reduction and circular economy
- Other emerging farm and food technology applications.
Applications are now open and close 15 February 2026.
Source and image: CSIRO
According to the latest report of RaboResearch, the expansion of milk flows due to healthy margins and strong farmgate pricing mean the global market is well supplied.
Global dairy markets still face headwinds on the demand side, with low- and middle-income consumers impacted the most. Ongoing sluggishness in demand remains the case across many foodservice channels. Consumer confidence has been deteriorating in the US and is clearly still struggling in China, with discretionary spending under pressure.
The global dairy market will face a period of weaker commodity prices in the face of ample milk supplies into 2026 and exportable surpluses. Demand remains fragile and, in the absence of any supply shock to impede surplus milk, raises the risk of prolonged weak pricing through mid-to-late 2026 as surplus milk enters the market.
Australia's milk production has passed the seasonal peak. Milk production was down 2.3% season-to-date in October 2025, led by declines in Victoria. The rate of decline has slowly started to moderate on a year-on-year basis.
RaboResearch expects the Australian production season to finish down 1.5% YOY at the end of June 2026.
Consumer shopping behaviours continue to lean towards value and trading down as cost-of-living pressures endure. In the first two months of the 2025/26 season, drinking milk sales were down 1.1% YOY nationally on a volume basis.
Source: Rabobank | Image: Dairy Australia
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.
