|
Key Australian Initiatives to
Support the Agri-Food Industry
|
|
|
National Food Industry Strategy
In 2002, the national government in Australia partnered with private industry and formed the National Food Industry Strategy Ltd., (NFIS Ltd.), which is an industry-led private company, backed by the Australian Government, focused on leading Australia's food industry towards a sustainable and profitable role worldwide.
The Strategy is a five-year (2002-2007) blueprint for growth through increased exports, increased investment in innovation and improved efficiency, sustainability and skills development. To underpin the strategy's success, the Australian government has committed $102.4 million over five years to a number of targeted initiatives:
to enhance the innovative capacity of firms
to build industry skills and capabilities
to put in place an integrated and focused export strategy
to provide infrastructure and capabilities to enhance product integrity and supply chain management in international markets
Primary Industries Act
To assist key industries to expand, the national government (1999) introduced the Australia Primary Industries Act, which allows levies on agricultural, livestock and forestry products. The proceeds of this levy are used to fund research, marketing and health and safety monitoring of these products. This has given these industries a mechanism to raise money to support their growth and access to matching government funding for specific initiatives.
The Flagship Program
The Commonwealth Government also initiated The National Research Flagship (NRF) program, which is one of the largest scientific initiatives ever mounted in Australia.
Specifically designed to integrate, focus and direct national scientific resources, the NRF program is primarily about building partnerships - and delivering results. There are currently six Flagships within the program: Food Futures, Light Metals, Preventive Health, Energy Transformed, Water for Healthy Country and Wealth from Oceans.
The Food Futures goal is to radically increase international competitiveness and add $3 billion annually to the Australian agri-food sector by the application of frontier technologies to high-potential industries.
Preventative Health aims to improve the health and well-being of Australians and save $2 billion in annual direct health costs by 2020 through the prevention and early detection of chronic diseases.
Both of these initiatives have direct and indirect benefit for the Australian agri-food industries.
Back to the Australia page
|
|
|
