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The 2023 Western Australian citrus season has officially begun, with premium quality oranges, mandarins and lemons now available in retail outlets.
The value of WA citrus production has doubled in the past eight years, with more than 1,000 hectares now grown across the state.
The WA Government is supporting the industry's growth by partnering with grower-led research and development, as well as investing in technology improvements and export development to help capture new market opportunities, as part of the Value Add Agribusiness Investment Grants and Asian Market Export initiatives.
International interest in WA oranges continues to grow, with current exports destined for China, Hong Kong, the Gulf Region and Japan. WA citrus has featured in several WA Government export promotions in recent years, including in Thailand, Japan and India. More...
Source: WA Minister for Agriculture and Food | Photo: DPIRD
The Western Australian Government is investing $8.5 million over the next four years to drive aquaculture research and development across WA.
The funding will be used to implement key projects identified in the Aquaculture Development Plan for WA, including: upgrading facilities at Broome, Pemberton and Albany; developing industry plans to guide research and investment in key sectors; and monitoring aquaculture development zones to ensure economic and environmental sustainability.
Minister for Fisheries and Regional Development Don Punch said the funding would help build a strong and sustainable aquaculture industry for the future.
WA's aquaculture industry is worth $21 million – excluding pearls – and employs around 1,000 people. The investment will help to support the production of a variety of seafood products, including yellowtail kingfish, barramundi, abalone, mussels, marron, silver perch, rainbow trout, yabbies and oysters. It will also help to support the development of emerging industries, such as coral and seaweed production. More...
Source: WA Minister for Fisheries and Regional Development | Photo: DPIRD [Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park]
Anyone wishing to prepare business ideas for the commercial environment will be interested in Curtin Ignition, a week-long intensive program designed to prepare business ideas for commercial use.
Since 2016, Investment Services at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have offered three fully-funded individual places for those with ideas around agribusiness, agtech, food and beverage manufacturing etc, to participate in the programme. Non-funded positions are $3,750 (excluding GST) per person.
Those who experience the program will learn how to explain their business opportunity in commercial terms. Participants will learn how to develop a commercial approach in the development of innovative ideas, how to identify good opportunities in a short period with minimal investment, clarify their business ideas, and test them within a high calibre, although a safe environment.
Applications for fully-funded positions close 14 July 2023. More…
Source and Image: Curtin University / Investment Services, DPIRD
The Australian Government is considering a range of measures to address the importation of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) seafood. IUU fishing is a key contributor to global overfishing. It threatens marine ecosystems and puts food security and regional stability at risk. It is also linked to human rights violations and organised crime.
While Australia fights IUU fishing in a variety of ways, there are concerns that we may be importing IUU seafood, which is contributing to the issue.
You can now provide feedback to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on a discussion paper which outlines the problem and potential measures to address IUU imports. Of particularly interest is your feedback on the questions and options raised in the paper, as well as your practical ideas.
Your feedback will help better understand the extent of IUU products entering Australia, and explore ways to strengthen Australia’s seafood import controls. To have your say, simply read the discussion paper and submit your feedback via the online form by 3pm AWST on Friday 23 June 2023. Your feedback will be used to prepare a draft report. More...
Source and Image: DAFF
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) says e-commerce negotiations are continuing to make progress, with negotiators focusing on key issues such as data flows, consumer protection, and the use of electronic signatures.
WTO members have agreed to focus on the following:
- Data flows: Negotiators are discussing how to ensure that data flows freely and securely across borders. This is important for businesses that rely on data to operate, as well as for consumers who want to access goods and services from around the world.
- Consumer protection: Negotiators are discussing how to protect consumers from fraud and other risks when they shop online. This is important for ensuring that consumers have a positive experience when they buy goods and services online.
- Use of electronic signatures: Negotiators are discussing how to ensure that electronic signatures are legally recognised and accepted. This is important for businesses wanting to use electronic signatures to conduct transactions online.
The WTO says the e-commerce negotiations – which are expected to continue for several more years – are important for businesses and consumers around the world. Reaching agreement on rules for e-commerce benefits businesses and consumers by creating a more level playing field for businesses, and ensuring consumers have access to a wider range of goods and services. More...
Source: WTO | Photo: Kaitlyn Baker / Unsplash
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.
