Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has announced that South West Region Member of the Legislative Assembly Jackie Jarvis is the State's new Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry and Small Business.

The Premier said Ms Jarvis has had a long career advocating for regional WA through her work as Chief Executive Officer of the WA Rural, Regional and Remote Women's Network, as well as her time as Commissioner for the Forest Products Commission, and on the boards of the South West Development Commission and Australian Landcare Council.

Minister Jarvis lives in Margaret River, where she has owned and run a commercial vineyard and winery alongside her husband since 1998.

The Premier said, as a farmer and regional businesswoman, Ms Jarvis' experience will make her a tremendous asset in her new portfolios.

Regional Development has been added to Fisheries Minister Don Punch's portfolios. More... Source and Photo: WA Premier [Minister Jackie Jarvis (left) with Premier Mark McGowan and new Minister Sabine Winton.]

Tickets have been released for a two-day event dedicated to food waste management, innovations in sustainable packaging and sustainability beyond an environmental lens.

Facilitated by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Turning the Dial is tailored towards food and beverage manufacturers and is the first of its kind in Western Australia. All WA food and beverage manufacturers and invested industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend.

This event will focus on current issues facing the sector including:

• Management of food waste.
• Packaging and the broader circular economy agenda.
• Advancing WA business sustainability credentials.

It will provide attendees with practical information on global best practice to guide discussions and solutions for immediate application.

When: Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 February 2023.
Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, 21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth.
Registration: Purchase your early-bird tickets here.  Source: DPIRD | Photo: DPIRD /  iStock

Leading experts and farmers gathered in Perth last week to explore the possibility of Western Australia's livestock production becoming a net sequester rather than emitter of carbon.

Speaking at the Meaty Matters: Cows and Climate forum, then Minister for Agriculture and Food Alannah MacTiernan said the science is showing us there are livestock faming systems that can reduce methane and build soil organic matter to produce carbon neutral or even carbon negative meat and dairy products.

She was joined by speakers from Resource Consulting Services, Murdoch University, University of Washington, CSIRO, The University of Western Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development examining opportunities for the livestock sector amid a changing climate.

Ms MacTiernan said the WA livestock industry and the wider agriculture sector can be part of the solution to the climate change challenge.

"Livestock emissions, in the form of methane, are part of the natural carbon cycle, and the livestock industry has been raising awareness of the distinction between livestock and fossil fuel emissions," she said.

"Carbon farming offers an opportunity for farmers and other landowners to increase the amount of carbon stored in soil and vegetation or reduce emissions from activities such as livestock production. WA farmers are in a unique position to feed the world, create greater biodiversity and improve soils, which will create healthier and more profitable farming systems and sequester carbon." More... Source: WA Minister for Agriculture and Food | Photo: DPIRD / iStock

Building your own agtech business can be challenging. To assist with knowledge sharing and building agtech connections, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is offering support packages of $2,000 for up to six WA agtech businesses to attend the premier AgriFutures evokeAG Down to Earth conference in Adelaide from 21 to 22 February 2023.

The event will also offer attendees an insight into the issues, trends and opportunities shaping our food and farming systems into the future.

In 2019, the event proved invaluable to recipients including Paul Callander (ManukaLife Pty Ltd), Robert Kelly (Agora), Tim Hyde (SWAN Systems), Rich Evans (MIRRECO®), Darren Hughes (Laconik), Ivor Gaylard (Swan Systems) and who were supported by DPIRD team members Peter May and Susan Hall.

To find out if you're eligible to receive a support package to attend, go to DPIRD's evokeAG 2023 Down to Earth website, or contact DPIRD's Investment Services team at investment@dpird.wa.gov.au or call 08 9368 3642.

Expressions of Interest will close 5pm (AWST), 13 January 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by late January 2023.  Source and Photo:  DPIRD / evokeAG

The first shipment in 20 years of Western Australian citrus has been exported to Thailand. Twenty-three tonnes of fresh navel oranges arrived in Laem Chabang port in Thailand last month, with further consignments to follow in the 2023 season.

An exciting new trade relationship between Bindoon citrus growers, Northern Valley Packers, and Thai retail giant, CP Foods, arises after a series of buyer missions to WA hosted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

As WA’s twelfth largest agrifood export market in Asia, with imports worth $114 million per annum, Thailand is positioned to drive further distribution of WA oranges.

In the last ten years, WA fresh navel orange exports have grown exponentially from $122,000 in 2012-13 to $4.2 million in 2021-22. More... Source and Photo: DPIRD [Northern Valley Packers Chief Executive Officer, Shane Ray (left), with DPIRD Principal Trade Consultant, Fiona Goss.]

Australian wines are finding their way onto drink orders at Indian bars, restaurants and social gatherings.

Despite having the world’s third largest alcoholic beverage market, wine is a relatively new category in India. Over the past two decades India’s palate for wine has begun to grow. Changing demographics and attitudes toward alcohol has led to an increase in wine consumption.

Spotting opportunity, Australian exporters are working to cut a slice of the Indian wine market that is projected to grow by 8% per annum to 2024.

In 2021, Australia was India’s largest source of wine imports, with Australian exports increasing by 81% on the previous year. Between September 2021 and September 2022, Australian wine producers exported 3.6 million litres of wine to India at a total value of $16.2 million.

The market is dominated by still reds followed by still whites with shiraz blends, chardonnay and shiraz most popular, respectively. More... Source: Austrade | Photo: Nicolaevna Arnautova / Unsplash

Australian food and beverages continue to wow in the US, starring at a leading trade fair.

Austrade hosted the first-ever Australia Pavilion at The Private Label Manufacturers Association’s 2022 Private Label Trade Show, which was held in Chicago from 13 to 15 November.

Eleven companies exhibited at the pavilion, showcasing some of Australia’s best-loved packaged foods and world-class wines.

Australia was one of 24 countries with displays. While it was cold and snowy outside, Australian companies hotly contested customer interest on the show floor.

They highlighted their offerings under the banner of “innovative”, “safe” and “natural”. Products spanned organic honey, vanilla, dried fruit, lupins, plant-based food, fine wines and pet treats. More... Source:  Austrade | Photo: PLMA