The Victorian government says a consortium of public and private agencies will help realise and fast-track regional opportunities. The sector generated more than $17 billion last year.
Regional development minister Harriet Shing said, “This landmark partnership is about unlocking growth in food and fibre across the state’s regions. It will drive economic recovery and development for regional and rural Victorians by creating jobs, supporting skills, and attracting talent.”
A consortium, led by CSIRO and with $1 million from the state government, will include Regional Development Victoria, Food and Fibre Gippsland, Deakin, La Trobe, ACU, Monash, Swinburne, Melbourne, RMIT, FedUni, and Victoria universities for the project. Victoria’s nine Regional Partnerships and six Victorian-based Regional Development Australia Committees will also be involved.
The consortium brings together industry, educational institutions, and government to drive more innovation, production and collaboration across the sector, Shing said.
In 2021-22, Victoria was the largest food and fibre exporter by value in Australia, generating more than $17 billion and accounting for 26 per cent of national exports. Gippsland’s food and fibre sector contributes $7 billion to the state’s economy each year and supports more than 15,000 jobs across the sector.
The government said that by combining leading research institutions with business, industry, scientific and policy experts, the consortium will make it easier and more accessible for proposals and projects in the sector to secure investment and start their work in the region.
The consortium will support projects with market and investment strategies, supply chain reviews, infrastructure planning, and technical and export feasibility assessments and boost access to market, sustainability, and environmental planning.
