CVAF

The Central Victorian Agribusiness Forum based in Bendigo has been boosting its activity recently to assist agribusiness in finding greater opportunities both regionally and internationally.

CVAF recently won a grant from the City of Greater Bendigo to develop an Online Agribusiness Register that will help support local agribusiness operators in developing stronger networks and economic activities within the region.

“We identified this need as an outcome of running a recent agribusiness event. The information was not collated in a central point. We want to support agribusiness in having better access to local product and services. This applies right across the value chain from the producer, to professional agribusiness services, distributors and retailers. The economic value of agribusiness in our region is strong, but our aim is to help it grow further” said CVAF Chair James Finlay.

Separately Executive Officer Martin Szakal organised a delegation of five to attend the 2014 International Agriculture Congress hosted in Malaysia last week. The representatives came from across the State to participate in the event. City of Greater Bendigo Counsellor and Chair of the Farming Advisory Committee James Williams participated in the delegation.

“The Malaysian agribusiness sector, like ours, is striving to create market efficiencies, improve quality of produce and create innovative ways of competing in a global marketplace. This includes addressing issues surrounding biosecurity, biotechnology, agricultural engineering, pest management, integrated Agro-based industries and education” said Cr. Williams.

However with Malaysia showing a rapid decline in the agriculture sector by approximately 21.6% over the last three decades and with a growing middle class exploring more diversity, safety and quality, opportunities for agribusinesses to enter the market may exist.

“Malaysia and many other nations from across the Asian region are making large financial investments into their research and development and education areas to help establish current and future food security issues whilst also seeking to compete in the global marketplace. We really must keep active in developing our opportunities also. ” said Mr. Szakal.

The delegation also attended the Malaysian Agriculture, Hortictulture and Agrotourism Show which attracts over five million visitors over 10 days from across the South-East Asian region.

Opportunities for regions to develop closer ties with export markets have been identified under the recent State Government’s Food to Asia Action Plan and the Federal Government’s Agriculture Competitive Green Paper.

Following my recent return from the Super Trade Mission to South East Asia, my 'in-market meetings' in Malaysia proved highly productive. One buyer Sing Wee Yek from Niche Brands Malaysia (who covers all of the region including China) is seeking to secure supply of high quality produce long term. He currently procures supplies from Norther Victoria and deals directly with farm-gate as he likes to know the producer, understand grower stories and ensure relationships are strong. His consolidation partner operates out of Tulamarine and recent conversations with him yielded that they have systems in place to assist producers enter export markets. If you are already exporting or seeking to enter the market, you should attend the Food Boom Summit- Growing the Value Chain to Asia for many reason;

• Meet and understand the profile of potential future customers
• Hear insights from trade industry experts
• Understand government motivations and activities in the region
• Hear about experiences from other producers who have successfully entered the market
• Network with other producers who may help you produce, facilitate or export your produce into quickly growing markets

Click here for more information about the Summit or to Book Tickets click here...

Our newly appointed Executive Officer Martin Szakal was successful in our application to attend the South East Asia Super Trade Mission  commencing on 14 June 2014. This is a State Government Initiative. The Trade Mission will hold a series of seminars, site visits and information sessions in the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok. Martin will be joining two representatives from other Agribusiness Forums on this Mission. He is looking forward to gathering information for local agribusiness producers and service providers to assist in gaining traction into the Asia region.

If you would like your organistation's details passed on to prospective clients In-Market, please fill out the online form HERE...

We are aiming to secure opportunities for our local agribusiness region.

The Super Trade Mission Program has been finalised.

Kuala Lumpur

Sunday 15 June

Delegate Welcome Dinner

Monday 16 June

Malaysian & Victorian Food Forum

Victoria's Food Display

Business Matching Meetings

Whole of Mission Launch Event

Tuesday 17 June

Transit to Jakarta

Retail Site Visits

Wednesday 18 June

Visit INDO Livestock, Feed, Dairy & Fisheries Expo

Dairy Australia Forum- A Focus on Cheese including bakery, retail, food service & industrial users

Networking Event including Delegate In-Market Invitees

Thursday 18 June

Transit to Bangkok

Food & Agribusiness Showcase

Food Networking Event- Victoria's Premium Produce

Friday 20 June

Group A: Visit Fresh Wholesale Market

Gourp B: Visit Food Services Company

Launch Australian Pear Promotion

Delegate Debrief- Mission Close

If you would like to have your organisations contact details provided to In-Market opportunities, please fill out the Request for Trade Contact Information Consideration online form here. We are certainly aiming to assist our local agribusiness secure new opportunities.

Please forward the page url to any contacts or clients who may be interested.

The Central Victorian Agribusiness Forum (CVAF) is an incorporated body aimed at networking opportunity amongst agribusiness in our region.

A recent independent research conducted by Neil Clark Business Intelligence of Central Victoria were made available to CVAF. 

It shows;

Agriculture Production

• total farm inputs equalling $482.6 million
  
• total estimated value of agricultural operation (EVAO) equalling $784.9 million an increase of 12.% over the past 10 years (2012)
• total food and fibre processing equalling $1.371 billion
  
• With the top five EVAO’s in Central Victoria (2012) including Dairy, Mixed Farming, Grain, Pig and Crop & Plant, strong opportunities exist for our region across Asian markets.
• the total revenue fo Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing in 2011 for Central Victoria is $656.9 million
• 2,815 businesses in Central Victoria for Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing in 2011.
• Of the 2,815 businesses, 35% had a turnover less than $50,000 in 2011

Farm Input Costs

• Total farm input costs for Central Vic in 2011 was $482,662,000
• Livestock feed and fodder supplements input cost estimates have increased by $94.7m from 1997 to 2012 ($157.6m)
• the top five input costs include Livestock feed and fodder, repairs adn maintenance, fertiliser adn soil conditioners, fuels and lubricants, crop and pasture chemicals
• Gross indebtedness for Central Victoria totalled $894.4m in 2012, up from $806.7m in 2011
• Total interest is estimated at $89.4m in 2012, up from $80.7m in 2011

Food & Fibre Processing

• The total revenue for Central Vic food and fibre is $1.371 billion
• Of the 148,977 national employees in teh food and fibre processing ANZSIC industries 2,568 are in Central Victoria; 1.7%
• Cure meats adn smallgoods manufacturing has the highest number of employees at 878 and also the highest revenue at $479.2m

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