Regional Victorian food producers with innovative ideas for new products, services or to improve productivity have received $500,000 in Brumby Labor Government support during the latest round of Food Industry For a Sustainable Tomorrow (FIRST) grants.
Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the Brumby Labor Government was taking action to support innovation in Victoria’s food industry to create jobs, stimulate growth and improve productivity.
“Victoria is Australia’s foodbowl, leading the country in food production, processing and export with more than 2000 food processing firms turning out products including meat, dairy, confectionery, oils, grains, fruit and vegetables.
“We understand food producers need to continue to innovate to remain competitive domestically and internationally and that’s why we introduced the FIRST program.
“By supporting food producers we are also supporting jobs for regional Victoria and ensuring that the regions are well supported by tourism brought about by many of these producers having drawcard products that must be sampled when visiting the respective region.”
The six latest recipients are:
- Frais Farms, Lindenow - $255,000 for a project to grow, wash and package an exciting new green salad vegetable, which is not available in commercial quantities in Australia. The project will help the company create 15 full-time jobs and a further eight casual and contract positions, generating an estimated $11 million each year for the local economy;
- Meredith Dairy, Meredith - $119,295 for a project to extend the dairy and upgrade its processing equipment. The project will help Meredith Dairy halve the manufacturing time of fresh goat cheese from three days, increasing the dairy’s output and competitiveness in Asia and the US;
- Northern Poultry Cluster, Loddon Shire - $42,000 to help research and develop technology to convert poultry waste into bio-energy and biochar – a high performance organic fertiliser and soil conditioner. The project is expected to create up to 10 new jobs and generate an estimated $5 million a year for the local economy;
- Riverland Oilseeds, Numurkah - $40,000 to help the company replace imported, protein-rich stockfeed with a locally produced product. The innovation will benefit local grain growers and reduce the bio-security risk to Australia;
- Casalare Specialty Pasta, Kyabram - $25,000 to help the company increase production of its range of gluten-free pasta while reducing greenhouse emissions; and
- Bridge Road Brewers, Beechworth - $18,800 to help Bridge Road Brewers produce commercial quantities of chestnut lager from chestnuts grown in nearby Stanley. There are only two other commercially available chestnut beers in the world – from Corsica and Italy.
“Innovation is the key to continuing to develop sustainable industries and this initiative will also help Victoria’s food industry compete and grow market share internationally and secure its long-term future,” Ms Allan said.
“Supporting our food industry also provides a boost for regional employers at a time when job creation is more important than ever.”