The Victorian Chamber’s Agribusiness Taskforce report released today, Harvesting Growth for Victoria, makes a number of recommendations in six areas key to the future success of Victorian agribusiness:

• Increase quality, innovation and value capture across the agribusiness supply chain
• Grow new agribusiness markets
• Facilitate investment and increase output
• Fast-track infrastructure and reduce transport and distribution constraints
• Improve workforce skills, grow jobs and build business capacity
• Lower agribusiness costs and reduce red tape.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone AM said many Victorians don’t realise how important this sector is to our state.

“Agribusiness exports account for 29 per cent of all Australian food and fibre exports and a significant 47 per cent of all Victorian goods exports,” he said.

The Taskforce, comprising agribusiness representatives and industry experts, spent six months investigating the issues and opportunities facing the sector. This comprehensive report outlines the steps needed to ensure its continued growth.

“Infrastructure gaps, particularly transport infrastructure, must be addressed as a priority as they are holding back agriculture’s supply chain productivity. Costly and unnecessary red tape is also working against the efforts of many producers,” he said.

“In a sector characterised by an ageing workforce and a comparatively low number of agricultural graduates, measures to address skills shortages and attract more young people to agribusiness careers must be fast-tracked.”

The report indicates that a lack of recognition and understanding by the wider community of the significance and contribution of agribusiness has meant it is not always seen as a high priority among policy makers.

“The Victorian Chamber is working to raise awareness of how important this sector that employs more than 190,000 Victorians is, and in doing so calls for more resources for agribusiness investment, infrastructure, education and training,” Mr Stone said.

“Agribusinesses have good prospects for continuing growth, but it is vital we give them the help they need to make that happen. Policy makers need to address the issues facing the sector and remove the significant obstacles it faces through the steps our Taskforce has outlined.”