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31 October 2023
Western Australian
agrifood export eNews
The Western Australian Government is connecting WA food and beverage businesses with local, national and international buyers to help them get their products onto retail shelves, menus and beverage lists across Australia and around the world.
In its third year, the annual Meet the Buyer trade event at Crown Perth last Tuesday included more than 80 exhibitors showcasing over 530 WA food and beverage products to around 200 prospective buyers.
Combined, the food and beverage manufacturing and food service sectors in WA employ more than 100,000 people with an annual turnover of $16 billion.
Meet the Buyer helps to build commercial relationships by bringing key buyers and sellers together in the one room for one day. The initiative is part of the State Government's Buy West Eat Best food and beverage labelling program.
Since the event first started in 2021, more than 1,400 food and beverage businesses have taken part and provided the opportunity to connect with in-excess of 800 buyers.
Products showcased at this year's event included premium meats, seafoods, seasonal fruit, vegetables, nuts and dairy products as well as olive and canola oils and a unique range of Indigenous ice creams and teas. More...
Source: WA Minister for Agriculture and Food | Photo: Buy West Eat Best | Related video: Our state on a plate Source: 7 News Regional WA
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development invites you to a transformative course on Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Fundamentals, presented by Curtin University, for a day of learning, networking and a light lunch.
Dive into the dynamic world of ESG principles, climate change, and sustainability. Explore the crucial aspects that shape today's and tomorrow's food and beverage business landscape. Engage with other businesses and stakeholders on their sustainability journey and combine forces to maximise your success.
Register now for this event which will be held in Perth from 9 am to 5 pm on Tuesday 21 November 2023. Tickets cost $60.
Source and Image: DPIRD / Curtin University
The first edition of the Vine and Wine World Trade Forum, held earlier this month in Dijon, France, revealed that international trade in wine and vine products has grown significantly over the past two decades.
The market has also become more diversified as consumer tastes have changed. While traditional winemaking economies, such as France, Italy and Spain, maintain their dominance in wine exports, “new world” winemakers, such as Australia, Chile and the United States, are also making major inroads. However, the share of China as an importer has declined following a period of growth, possibly due to global disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although tariffs have decreased in international wine trade, the wine industry is strongly influenced by non-tariff measures, such as increasing regulatory activity and health and safety considerations, including health warnings about wine consumption. At the same time quality schemes like geographical indication (GI) protection have a strong positive impact on export values.
International trade in wine and vine products has almost tripled over the past two decades, with its value steadily rising from US$17.7 billion in 2000 to over US$50 billion in 2021 and 2022. Wine accounted for the majority of this trade (76 per cent in 2022), while the remaining 24 per cent consisted of fresh and dried grapes and grape juice. More...
Source: WTO / OIV | Photo: International Organisation of Vine and Wine
The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) hosted a technical conference in China this month targeted at the brewing, malting and animal feed industries.
The Australian Barley Technical Conferences in Beijing and Guangzhou supplied Chinese customers with timely and practical information on new barley varieties, industry developments, advances in malting and brewing processes, and Australian barley production.
Access to the latest technical information from the Australian barley industry is highly appreciated by customers, because it helps them re-adapt to using Australian barley efficiently and swiftly. This also benefits growers, who again have access to what is usually Australia’s most important barley market.
AEGIC Markets Manager Mary Raynes provided detailed information on the current outlook for Australian barley production and export. Ms Raynes was also able to announce to Beijing conference attendees that the first shipment of Australian barley into China had been discharged and cleared by customs, news that was well-received.
The 2023 events were delivered by AEGIC on behalf of Grains Australia with support from Austrade and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and in collaboration with the Australian barley industry, including growers, breeding companies and industry experts.
AEGIC will continue to engage with the Chinese industry and will shortly deliver similar events in Mexico and Brazil.
AEGIC is an initiative of the Western Australian Government and Grains Australia. More...
Source and Photo: AEGIC [Mary Raynes, AEGIC Markets Manager – Barley]
Thirteen Western Australian businesses, including Fremantle Octopus and CBH Group, have been named as finalists in the 2023 Australian Export Awards.
The winners will be announced at the 61st Australian export awards national ceremony to be held in Canberra on 30 November 2023.
The 86 national finalists represent a diverse range of sectors and industries which have made significant contributions to our national economy, creating jobs and opportunities in our cities, regions, and rural areas.
Just over half of the finalists are small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million. More...
Source: Minister for Trade and Tourism | Photo: DPIRD
Climate change impact on fisheries: some optimism
While climate change poses a severe threat to fisheries' habitats in both tropical and temperate systems, there is cause for cautious optimism, delegates were told at the International Conference and Workshop on Lobster (and Crab) Biology and Management in Fremantle last week.
Keynote speaker Professor Gretta Pecl, an Australian marine ecologist, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, and the Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology at the University of Tasmania, highlighted several reasons why the seafood industry may be able to manage the impacts of climate change:
- While there is always room for improvement, Australia's fish and seafood sector has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other sectors.
- The industry and research sectors have a long history of coordination and collaboration, which has resulted in strategies such as the National Adaptation Research Plan for Marine Biodiversity and the National Climate Change and Fisheries Action Plan.
- Seafood producers are highly adaptive, and there is evidence of many 'autonomous' adaptation actions in the wild capture and aquaculture sectors, such as changes to product handling and landing practices, changing fish farming practices, and greater use of seasonal forecasting for farm management. However, it’s important that these adaptations are recorded and communicated, so that the responses of industry and the planned responses from managers and government can work in concert together.
- There is considerable knowledge on species sensitivity and management preparedness, with an understanding of what data and literature is and isn’t available for the 100 most important species in Australia. While many gaps were revealed, this gives us a strong basis to build on.
- The industry has a large suite of tools and frameworks at its disposal to manage climate change.
Professor Pecl said it is critical we continue working collaboratively to develop pathways to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate for fisheries and aquaculture in Australia.
Please contact Professor Pecl at gretta.pecl@utas.edu.au if you are interested in finding out more about how to get involved in a new project starting soon to improve two-way communication and engagement between the seafood industry and researchers on climate change, and to facilitate adaptation in the industry.
Source: Professor Gretta Pecl, UTAS | Photo: Paula Kalinowski / 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), 2023.
