The Queensland Government has announced the Food and Fibre to Market: Industry Partnerships Program (FF2M program) to increase exports of Queensland produce.
The FF2M program will provide $600,000 to eight industry partners to co-fund $1.7 million in supply chain and market development initiatives in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and the United States.
The projects aim to expand and deepen Queensland’s agricultural supply chain partners’ shared knowledge and expertise – producers, exporters, importers, and retailers.
“Queensland is an export powerhouse. In 2021-22, Queensland’s agricultural exports were valued at $10.7 billion. One in five jobs, is generated by exports. Growing our international trade is critical to the future prosperity of our agriculture, fishing and forestry industries and regional communities,” Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said.
Avocados Australia, an FF2M grantee, will receive $100,000 to expand its Shepard avocado supply chains to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Consumer research, educational workshops for importers, and new marketing materials aimed at both consumers and chefs will help drive Asia’s expanding demand for Queensland’s green-skin avocados.
“Ninety-nine per cent of Shepard avocados are grown in Queensland. Our domestic market is strong and secure which means that Avocados Australia can ramp up its efforts to promote high-quality Shepard avocados to our closest neighbours,” Avocados Australia CEO John Tyas said.
“The increased marketing and brand awareness activities supported by the Queensland Government, combined with the growing Asian consumer-demand for Shepards and the success of sea freight means that Shepard avocado exports could potentially grow by another 15 per cent in the next few years,” Tyas added.
The $250,000 initiative will further support the Australian avocado industry’s overall international export program over the next two years. This includes support from Hort Innovation through the Avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government through Avocados Australia’s “Avocado market access and trade development” program.
The other seven FF2M collaborative projects are with:
- Austchilli in Bundaberg and its grower partners will launch a promotional campaign to enhance exports of value-added AvoFresh products to Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
- The Australian Macadamia Society to develop and run an Australian Macadamia Festival in India.
- Australian Mango Industry Association to improve producers’ export capabilities to further develop mango industry supply chains to the United States.
- North Queensland’s Daintree Fresh and their supply chain partners to test a new, sweet, white-fleshed melon called Emperor’s Pearl for the Japanese market.
- Persimmons Australia to map supply chains, send experimental batches of persimmons to Southeast Asian markets and strengthen producers’ export capability.
- Tropical Agri Food Industry Network, in partnership with the Australian Reef Fish Trading Company, to develop fresh and frozen coral trout products and a brand development plan for new international markets.
