Platform to grow food and fibre
A new organisation focussed on growing Gippsland’s food and fibre sectors was officially launched at farm World.
Food & Fibre Gippsland is the amalgamation of Agribusiness Gippsland and the East Gippsland Food Cluster.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing officially launched the new entity on behalf of Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes.
The event was hosted by ABC Landline’s Tim Lee and attended by 80 people.
The launch included a number of updates on programs and initiatives that are already underway, with insights from individuals and businesses who are benefitting from those programs.
Interim chief executive officer Nicola Watts said the stories shared at the launch were just the beginning, with plenty more to come.
“There is a very unified vision that is clearly focused on making Gippsland’s quality food and fibre producers and processors of all sizes, and every associated business in the sector a constant talking point, not only in Victoria, but across Australia and even more ambitiously, the world,“she said.
Dr Watts said Food & Fibre Gippsland was all about the sustainable development of the food and fibre sectors.
“It’s a complex and busy space out there that is full of challenges, but also opportunities,” she said.
“We have lots of balls in the air and the task is to bring it all together.
She said there would be a massive focus on value adding.
Dr Watts said it was about collaboration, innovation and engagement.
Food & Fibre Gippsland codeputy chair Stuart Quigley is confident that the momentum created in the initial phase of amalgamation will continue to build, and that opportunities will continue to un-earthed for the region.
“We are excited about the future - with two strong organisations now firmly joined as one, Food & Fibre Gippsland will continue to move forwards, with our members, stakeholders and industry partners remaining at the core of everything we do – their success and prosperity is what drives us every day,” he said.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Quigley said “food and fibre is so important to our region.”
“Our vision is to be that force of collaboration. We have to collaborate together. It’s about bringing government, research and information together.
Mr Quigley said growth was stagnated at one per cent but there was great opportunity to grow that.
“To do that we have to establish an agenda. We want to engage with the industry and convert it into an action agenda,” he said.
Co-deputy chair Andrew Bulmer said there had been some brilliant initiatives and projects already underway with the previous organisations.
“With everything under one banner, there is now greater opportunity to share learnings whilst continuing to source and respond to more opportunities,” Mr Bulmer said.
Ms Shing acknowledged the work of former Agribusiness Gippsland chair Paul Ford who had “led a charge” to elevate discussion around food and fibre industries.
“One of the things we have been focussed on is identifying business opportunities for producers.
“It’s a $7 billion industry and we know the diversity of the product we make is world class,” she said.
Ms Shing said Food & Fibre Gippsland was an opportunity to celebrate the region’s diversity and tackle the challenges.
Food and Fibre discussion paper released – p30