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.