Great South Coast Agriculture, Food and Fibre Prospectus by foodfibregsc.com.au

Acknowledgement of country

Food and Fibre Great South Coast pays our respects to and acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we live and work - the Gunditjmara and Eastern Maar peoples, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

We recognise and respect their cultural heritage and continuing connection to land, water and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In our Agricultural, food and fibre pursuits, we are committed to continuing the sustainable custodianship of the Great South Coast’s natural resources.

Welcome to the Great South Coast

It is with great pride and pleasure that Food and Fibre Great South Coast is showcasing and representing Australia’s number one region for investment in agriculture.

The region prides itself in not only being the largest food and fibre-producing region, producing an average of $4.14B in agricultural output annually over the past five years; it is also a key centre of manufacturing. It is also a valued education hub, as we are endowed with many education facilities and the renowned Deakin University Warrnambool Campus, the latter offering a global education on a local scale. Our regional infrastructure within the Great South Coast region is now said to outperform city infrastructure, which, when combined with regional home and land packages available, offers key employees great incentives to relocate to the region.

Food and Fibre industries (agriculture, fisheries, and forestry) underpin our regional economy, accounting for 16.8 per cent of the region’s GVA, generating 16.3 per cent of total jobs. Agriculture and related food production industries make the Great South Coast an unequivocal rival when exploring relocation or business development opportunities.

The Great South Coast region has a temperate climate, with mild to warm summers and cold winters. Summer average maximum temperatures are around 22 to 24°C near the coast and in elevated areas and 25 to 27°C inland. Winter average maximum temperatures are around 12 to 14°C. The Great South Coast is the most reliable rainfall region in Victoria with the pasture growing season extending nine months of the year. Rainfall occurs mainly in winter and spring and is generally the result of rain-bearing weather systems coming from the west.

The area around Hamilton and Warrnambool receives around 600–700 mm of rain annually, the primary resource sustaining our thriving agricultural sector.

The Great South Coast is a world-class tourism destination with a strong domestic and international visitor economy expected to grow significantly over the next decade. It is home to the world’s most scenic and breathtaking coastal drives, with the iconic Twelve Apostles attracting nearly three million visitors annually. The city of Warrnambool and the towns of Camperdown, Port Campbell, Hamilton, Portland and Port Fairy not only are a mecca for tourists, but also offering outstanding livability to their local populations and viable economic base to regional farming communities.

Food and Fibre Great South Coast and our regional partners, Deakin University, Wannon Water, Local Government and Regional Development Australia Barwon South West, welcome you to our region. We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to engage with us to better understand and explore the business opportunities, considering the lifestyle options and residential benefits that the Great South Coast in Southwest Victoria can offer you, your business, and your employees.

Regards,

Oonagh Kilpatrick

Oonagh Kilpatrick Chair, Food Fibre Great South Coast

What makes us Great!

It is my pleasure to welcome you to this prospectus and the exciting opportunities ahead for all of us.

The Great South Coast Economic Futures report identified several high value economic development pathways for the region. These pathways will be transformative for the local economy and beyond. Food and Fibre is one of these outstanding opportunities.

As highlighted in this prospectus, the Great South Coast Food and Fibre sector is very strong, innovative and incredibly well positioned to leverage this further. The region is committed to net zero emissions and through our local renewable energy production, already makes an important contribution to assisting the nation achieving its targets. We are becoming a location of choice with our plentiful water supply and rapid transition to clean and green food and fibre provenance. The Great South Coast is leading work on developing the new green transport sector through our Hycel Technology Hub at Deakin University Warrnambool.

The Great South Coast is a very strategic and collaborative community. It has ambition and an effective network of community leaders and organisations aligned to a shared vision. Bringing together new investment, business, government and communities will be an important enabler in creating the future for the region we all want.

The Great South Coast Economic Futures Project Steering Group is committed to being a part of the solution to achieve the outcomes and success the region is striving for. We look forward to working with you all to progress these exciting opportunities in Food and Fibre across the Great South Coast.

Grant Sutherland Chair, Great South Coast Economic Futures Project Steering Group

Source: Agriculture Victoria, 2018

Source: Remplan 2023

$7.7B

7,856

33.0% of Victoria’s milk

16.8%

The $16.3 billion red meat sector in Australia has the potential to expand to $22.2 billion by 2030

(Protein: A Roadmap for unlocking technology-led growth opportunities for Australia, CSIRO 2022)

Our Region

The Great South Coast Regional Partnership consists of five municipalities extending from the Shipwreck Coast to the South Australian border.

Southern Grampians (S)

Casterton Coleraine

Mortlake

Portland

Cobden Corangamite (S)

Warrnambool (C)

Hamilton

Glenelg (S) Moyne (S)

Port Fairy Dennington Allansford

Camperdown Terang

Warrnambool Koroit

Our Agriculture, Food & Fibre Industries

29.5%

OF VICTORIA'S TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE

The Great South Coast contributes to 29.5% of Victoria’s beef production and represents 26.4% of the Great South Coast’s overall agricultural output value.

The strong growth in demand for grass fed beef, combined with rising demand from Asia as they adopt more western style diets – especially high protein ones – suggest strong prospects for the Great South Coast beef industry.

Meat was Victoria’s second largest export industry in 2022 with sheep meat the second largest product by value ($4.3B) and up 44% on the previous year.

Sheep

OF VICTORIA'S TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE 32.4%

21.7% Of the Great South Coast’s value of agricultural production is sheep meat, and 7.6% is wool.

Research undertaken at the Red Meat Innovation Centre in Hamilton drives innovation in this area. Current research into sheep focuses on new technologies and practices to increase lamb production and productivity.

Great South Coast is able to take advantage of a clean and green image alongside biosecurity benefits in this export-orientated market.

The production of sheep meat provides the region with an opportunity to capitalize on changing diets in emerging Asian economies.

33.0%

OF VICTORIA'S TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE

The Great South Coast’s dairy farms contribute to 33.0% of Victoria’s milk production and represents 32.7% of the Great South Coast’s overall agricultural output value.

Companies operating within the region have been able to take advantage of both economies of scale and density of production to strengthen their production offering.

The favorable climate, reliable rainfall and fertile soil conditions are some of the key driving forces behind the region’s strength in dairy, offering stability of supply.

Food Processing

$319M

GVA FOOD MANUFACTURING IN THE GREAT SOUTH COAST

The gross value add of food product manufacturing in the Great South Coast is $319 million.

The main types of food processing in the Great South Coast are dairy, meat, seafood and grain.

The main food processing locations in the Great South Coast are Warrnambool, Camperdown, Cobden, Portland, Hamilton and Koroit.

Regional exports: 68% of Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing Output

Source: Remplan 2023

Southern Grampians Glenelg Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool

A Great Future!

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Livestock

Dairy

Mixed farming (Grains, Horticulture, Specialised crops)

Henty & Grampians Wine regions

Green Triangle Forestry Region

Green Energy and Value Add Production

AgriTourism – Boutique Artisans

Organic Food Bowl

Aquaculture & Seaweed

TO MILDURA

Portland

Mount Gambier

Casterton Coleraine

Hamilton

Port Fairy

Koroit

Warr nambool

The Great South Coast embraces regenerative economic development principles with the aim to grow the value of our region’s food and fibre production to improve the prosperity, well-being, and resilience of all, serving our local, national and international communities.

Our Value Proposition:

• Value-add processing of dairy and red meat products and by-products for use in highvalue fortified nutrition, supplements, and pharmaceuticals

• Value-add processing of timber by-products for biofuel, biochar and fertilisers. Additive manufacturing utilising timber by-products for application in environmentally sustainable packaging, construction, aviation, automotive and medical sectors

• Production and value-add processing of organic grains, seeds, pulses, dairy, meat, specialised crops, herbs, spices, superfoods, native food, and medicinal plants

• The production of Pinot Noir and other coldregion grapes and wines

• Irrigation and value-add processing of suitable high-value horticultural opportunities: olive oil, nuts, avocados, flowers and wholesale nurseries

• The biowaste to energy production precinct: solid waste management, green energy, and supply chain options to value-producing agribusinesses

• Transport logistics and export finance guarantees to support small and mediumsized agribusinesses

• Production and value-add processing of aquaculture and seaweed

• The application of research in biotechnology, genetics, seaweed, hydrogen, and related technologies

• Boutique artisan value-add production for farmgate sales and exports.

Great Region, Great People…

+ Waltanna Farms

+ Grange Garlic

+ Maneroo Farms

MANEROO FARMS

Prime Lamb & Beef Producer

Georgina Gubbins, managing director of Maneroo Farms runs a 3000 sheep and 800 Angus cattle operation at Heywood, Great South Coast, producing high value beef for the restaurant and lamb for the domestic trade.

As former Chair of Food & Fibre Great South Coast, Georgina is a great advocate for the region, she generously shares her experience as a successful farmer.

“People don’t realise that the southwest is the number one producing region in Victoria, and we have consistently been in the top three nationally and that’s how important we are to the Australian economy. We optimise the impact and unlock the value and capacity of the region’s food and fibre industry.”

“I farmed in South West Queensland and appreciate the reliability of rainfall in the Great South Coast region. There is more money and less stress in mud than dust…”

- Georgina Gubbins, Maneroo Farms

GRANGE GARLIC

“Garlic wants to grow in the Hamilton Region, and the returns per hectare are significantly more than broadacre cropping or grazing”

- Wayne & Tracey Schild

Grange Garlic is a family farming business based at Croxton East, 20 minutes east of Hamilton in the Western District of Victoria.

“We are a vertically integrated business, linking the worlds of horticulture and food processing to create a proudly 100% Australian product. We produce the only fresh minced garlic available in Australia. Significant opportunities for export to the rest of the world exist, as there is a rise in the market for healthy food. Australia’s reputation for producing healthy and safe food is widely acknowledged. We are very proud of our award–winning fresh minced garlic. It is an all-Australian product that naturally captures the health-giving properties that garlic has to offer! ”

WALTANNA FARMS

“There is no better place in Australia than the greater Hamilton region to embrace innovation and experimentation with crops and value add…”

- Mike Nagorcka, Waltanna Farms

Waltanna Farms is based in Hamilton, a pristine pocket of the South-West Victorian farming region in the fertile basalt plains at the foothills of the Grampians.

“Having identified the value of growing chemically free produce early on, we were ahead of our time when some of the Waltanna Farms paddocks became certifiably organic as early as 1998” Mike Nagorcka conveys his generational story of early adoption and innovation … Waltanna Farms operates a unique gate-to-plate quality management system. It is an ever-evolving production system enabling the delivery of consistently high-quality products. The non-chemical crop management solutions include companion planting, regular crop rotation and sowing seeds consistently close together to deter weeds.

“We proactively use existing farm assets for heat recovery, cooling and energy generation in our food production processes while striving for zero waste through the innovative use of our by-products and cover crops…”

Adaptive growing and processing techniques and decades of investment in science and research have enabled Waltanna Farms to build a reputation for accessible, palatable and nutritionally matchless products.

“Our production increased 10-fold over the last three years, delivering supplies to over 380 companies worldwide...”

Research and Innovation

Deakin University’s Hycel is an industry- informed and led regional hub advancing Australia’s clean energy transition.

Hycel Technology Hub: Australia’s first hydrogen Fuel Cell Research, Prototyping, Fabrication, Education and Training Facility, Deakin University, Warrnambool

Hycel connects Deakin’s hydrogen research and education capability with industry, government, and community partners.

At Hycel Deakin’s renowned research capability in advanced materials and manufacturing, engineering, energy systems, IT, artificial intelligence, technoeconomics and social sciences are complemented by world-leading infrastructure and equipment.

Mobility

Optimising fuel cells and energy systems to support a transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen in hard-to-abate transport and beyond.

Mobility

support a fuels to hard-to-abate

Committed

to a green future

Our research is approached holistically, tackling technological challenges in heavy vehicle mobility, and materials and manufacturing alongside developing solutions for education, training, and social licence. Research and project teams work together to meet the needs of industry and partners.

Strategically located in Warrnambool, the Hycel Technology Hub is adjacent to key transport corridor connecting industries, communities and resources.

As a regional hub for testing hydrogen technologies at scale, Hycel is building momentum for the region to capitalise on the increasing national and global demand for hydrogen, whilst also supporting the local economy to attract further investment.

Education

and support a fuels to hard-to-abate beyond.

fuel cells and systems to support a from fossil fuels to in hard-to-abate and beyond.

Materials and Manufacturing

Developing hydrogen education and training pathways in the school, vocational, tertiary, and professional sectors to prepare Australia for the jobs of the future.

Materials and Manufacturing

Optimising materials for production, storage, containment and puriﬁcation, and green chemicals to support hydrogen distribution, usage and infrastructure.

Developing hydrogen education and training pathways in the school, vocational, tertiary, and professional sectors to prepare Australia for the jobs of the future.

Social licence

Understanding and implementing best practice approaches to social licence that build awareness and acceptance of hydrogen’s role in the transition to zero emissions energy.

Regenerative Ecosystems

Integration of Resources, Energy, Water and Ecosystems

“Agriculture plays a key role in our regional economic development, for a continuous level of farm surplus is one of the wellsprings of technological and commercial growth…

Our farming and forestry communities are committed to building a regenerative economy that supports biodiversity, climate resilience and thriving soils capable of growing healthy livestock and bountiful crops. With our partners and farming community, we are leading the transition towards a secure future…”

- Food & Fibre Great South Coast

Smart Farm Innovation

Initiatives

Protecting Biosecurity –tracing of stock movement

• Traceability

• Exotic diseases

• Invasive plants and animals

Emissions reduction –measuring and managing carbon emissions

• Know your number – On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot

Adapting to climate change

• New genetics

• Evaluation of forages for climate adaptation in the projects

Reducing Emissions -Decarbonisation

Digital management of farm operations

• Measuring nitrous oxide emissions in cropping systems

• New beef-dairy systems, mixed species swards

Adapting to Climate Change

• Measuring methane production in animal

is the fourth-largest source of emissions in Victoria 17%

• Solar water pumping stations are managed via sensors and switches that provide real-time information

Measuring Emissions

• New industries, for example, Industrial Hemp and solar energy

Adapting to Climate Change

Measuring Emissions

• Greenfeed Smartfeeder

•Know your number–On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot

•Measuring nitrous oxide emissions in cropping systems

• Carbon sequestration –agroforestry, industrial hemp

• Energy efficiency – agrivoltaics, lighthouses

•Measuring nitrous oxide emissions in cropping systems

• Sensors to measure pasture production and quality

•Measuring methane production in animals Mitigation

• Smart Feeder to monitor feed intake

• Field and greenhouse evaluation of elite forage germplasm

• Real-time monitoring of soil moisture and temperature 17%

• Feed supplements and forage systems to mitigate methane

Adapting to Climate Change

•Measuring methane production in animals Mitigation

•Carbon sequestration –agroforestry, industrial hemp

•Energy efficiency –agrivoltaics, lighthouses

Lighthouses

•Feed supplements and forage systems to mitigate

•Feed supplements and forage systems to mitigate methane Agriculture is the fourth-largest source of emissions in Victoria 17%

AGRICULTURE IS THE FOURTH-LARGEST SOURCE OF EMISSIONS IN VICTORIA

Source: Hamilton Smart Farm

Water Security

How is water managed in our region?

A range of key agencies work together to manage water resources, each organisation with a different role and providing different services to the community.

Wannon Water manages drinking water, recycled water and sewage/ trade waste.

Southern Rural Water is the licensing authority and regulator for groundwater and river water access.

Local councils manage urban stormwater.

Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) manage river health and environmental water.

Wannon Water's service area encompasses a variety of catchments accessing a diverse range of surface and groundwater supplies. These water sources have proven to be reliable and very secure even during extended periods of drought. The catchments are managed by the Corangamite CMA and the Glenelg Hopkins CMA.

Wannon Water services a wide range of communities and customers and is committed to enabling economic development in the Great South Coast.

“We see the connection to helping our communities flourish more broadly. We have a long history of managing water supply assets, and have a network of bores, treatment systems and skilled operators familiar with the region’s unique resources” – Wannon Water.

Rainfall in the Great South Coast is winter-dominant, and the growing season extends eight to nine months.

The median annual rainfall in Hamilton was 619 mm measured between 1983 and 2023; it increases towards the coast, with the Portland median being 840 mm per annum over the same period (Bureau of Meteorology).

Groundwater is a significant resource source supporting agricultural industries in the Great South Coast. Currently, groundwater provides 50 percent of the total water used for farming, industry and potable water supplies for cities and towns in the region.

The South West Limestone aquifer is the primary agricultural groundwater source for the Great South Coast, located between Port Campbell and the Victoria and South Australian border.

The deeper Dilwyn aquifer is a climate-resilient supply source with a large volume of unallocated water.

Wannon Water has existing bores with unused licence capacity that could provide expanded access to this resource.

Groundwater licences can be issued for a maximum 15-year term before requiring renewal. Licence holders must apply for licence renewal. All licences due for renewal in 21/22, were approved.

Currently, the groundwater use across the region is below 50% of entitlement. Water entitlements can be increased through trade with other existing licence holders. Carry over of unused entitlement is allowed up to 30% of entitlement per year.

619 mm median annual rainfall

groundwater currently licenced

of groundwater used per year

groundwater licences

South West Limestone Aquifer Annual Trade Summary Aquifiers in the south west region

Source: Southern Rural Water

Transport & Logistics

The Great South Coast is serviced by the Port of Portland, the Port of Geelong and the Port of Melbourne via the Princes Highway and the south west rail line.

Within the Great South Coast, the Port of Portland enables direct access to national and international markets, ensuring efficient exports of agricultural produce from the region.

The port services the region’s rich agricultural industry, particularly logs, woodchips, timber products, aluminium ingots, grains, cattle and sheep, and has the capacity for live exports. The recent completion of a 107,000-square-foot cold storage facility enables processed food exports.

The Port of Portland enables direct access to national and international markets, ensuring efficient exports of agricultural produce from the region.

30+ countries currently importing and exporting to/from Portland

Connectivity

Transport and energy infrastructure

• 2 railway corridors: Warrnambool, Geelong, Melbourne; Maroona, Portland

• 5 major highway corridors: Princes, Hamilton, Glenelg, Henty and Hopkins

• Major highway linkages with metropolitan Melbourne to the east, Ballarat and the Wimmera Mallee to the north, and Adelaide in the west

• Major aiports: Melbourne Tullamarine provides an international gateway to the Great South Coast

• 3 Major ports: The Port of Melbourne, Geelong and Portland. The Port of Portland, has a naturally deep-water port and is one of Australia’s busiest ports

• Regional airports located at Cobden, Warrnambool, Portland and Hamilton, and proximity to Avalon airport in Geelong

• Wind farms located along the coastal region and hinterlands

• Portland high voltage powerline supplying electricity from Victoria’s national grid

• Broadband network, including satellite, fixed wireless and fixed line services throughout Great South Coast.

Melbourne → Adelaide - 734 km

Melbourne → Hamilton - 311 km

Melbourne → Warrnambool - 257km

Melbourne → Portland - 351 km

Adelaide → Warrnambool - 600 km

Adelaide → Portland - 540 km

Adelaide → Hamilton - 500 km

Mildura Adelaide

Government Investment & Support for Agriculture

Key Worker Housing investment

Led by the Department of Families Fairness & Housing (DFFH) and Regional Development Victoria (RDV)

• A new $1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria – led by DFFH.

• A new $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund to provide new housing options for regional communities where key workers are struggling to find affordable places to live.

Regional investment

Led by RDV and Aboriginal Economic Development

• A new $20 million Aboriginal Economic Development Fund will support Aboriginal business and employment programs and support Aboriginal cultural tourism initiatives – led by Aboriginal Economic Development.

• A $20 million has been allocated to Tiny Towns to deliver more projects that will provide better public places and spaces to Victoria’s smaller cities – led by RDV.

• A new $25 million Council Support Package will help councils deliver their planned revitalisation and other projects for the benefit of locals – led by RDV.

Department of Home Affairs

• Designated area migration agreement (DAMA) for the Great South Coast provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to our region's unique economic and labour market conditions.

The DAMA program in Great South Coast endorsed 140 (50% of total) positions within the agricultural sector for the following occupations: agricultural technicians, dairy cattle farm operators, agricultural & horticultural mobile plant operators, beef cattle farmers and senior dairy cattle farm workers.

Agriculture Victoria

• Victoria invested $28 million in the SVBS Program to support the transformation of Victoria’s biosecurity system.

• The Victorian Government has committed $43 million of EAD funding to help prepare for an emergency animal disease event.

• AgRIN (2020-24) $15m to support a vibrant, globally competitive Victorian AgTech industry.

• $31.2 million for Victorian Grown, Distillery Door grants and farmer health and wellbeing.

• The $5 million Pathways to Export program is supporting small-scale and emerging agri-food businesses to develop export capability, access to international markets and grow.

• Vic House is a permanent trade pavilion in Shanghai that has contributed more than $15 million in export growth for Victorian companies.

Department of Transport & Planning

• $1.1 billion has been allocated to upgrade regional rail and road infrastructure.

$1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria.

Investment opportunities

Great South Coast is one of Australia’s leading dairy farming regions, contributing to 33.0% of Victoria's milk production and represents 32.7% of the Great South Coast’s overall agricultural output value.

Companies operating within the region have been able to take advantage of both economies of scale and density of production to strengthen their product offering. The favourable climate, reliable rainfall and fertile soil conditions are some of the key driving forces behind the region’s strength in dairy, offering stability of supply.

Opportunities in the dairy sector include:

• Automation & carbon reduction of farm operations

• Value add products focused on Health & Wellness Market

• Low-volume, high-value products in the pharmaceutical industry, for example, Lactalbumin, lactoferrin, colostrum, antibiotics, probiotics, etc

• Whey products for the export market. Whey products designed for use in the vegetarian fortified food market in India have high growth potential

Data Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia–2020-21 Please note production is measured in terms of gross value

Key Stats:

• A rising number of local artisans produce products for farmers’ markets and farm gate sales to a strong and vibrant international and local tourist market.

Victoria produces 61% of Australia’s milk

Victoria produces 73% of Australia’s dairy exports

Red Meat

The Great South Coast is a significant beef and lamb producer, accounting for 29.5% and 33.1% of Victoria's total beef and sheep meat production, respectively, amounting to $1.39 billion in Gross Value

Reliable rainfall provides an unparalleled season of nine months for pasture growing and successful meat production.

The Great South Coast takes advantage of a clean and green image alongside biosecurity benefits and commitment to net-zero emissions providing a competitive edge in an export-oriented market.

The production of sheep meat allows the region to capitalise on changing diets in emerging Asian economies. CSIRO’s Protein Roadmap for Australia forecasts the potential of red meat integrity systems for exports and for red meat for health and wellness markets to expand from $16.3 billion to 22.2 billion by 2030.

Investment Opportunities in the sector include:

• Integrity systems in the red meat sector to help verify the origin of production, support compliance, prevent risks and support research

• Expanding Australian red meat exports into new geographic markets

• Turning lesser cuts of red meat into value-added protein powders and nutraceuticals

• Precision fermentation

• Cultivated meats.

Key Stats:

VICTORIA IS THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER OF RED MEAT (BY VALUE).

Data Source: ABS Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia–2020-21. Please note production is measured in terms of gross value

Victoria is Australia’s largest sheep meat producer

Victoria is Australias leading food and fibre exporter at 26%

Organic Food Bowl

The Australian Organic Market Report 2021 (the Market Report) shows Australians are buying more organic products than ever.

According to the Australian Organic Market Report, 80% of shoppers purchased an organic product in the past 12 months, equating to approximately 9 million households. Household penetration of organic products grew by 3.6% to 92%.

Ibisworld reports organic farming revenue in Australia is expected to expand at an annualised 8.4% over the past five years – including an anticipated growth of 9.0% in the current year – to total $2.8 billion in 2023-24, with profit margins estimated to reach 25.4%.

CSIRO’s economic analysis finds that opportunities identified in the 2017 Food and Agribusiness Roadmap focused on the health and wellness sector could be worth $25 billion by 2030.

Southern Grampians-based organic farmers produce, process and package Certified Organic cereal crops, oils, flowers, and seeds. The region currently produces 1200 tons of flaxseeds and 2,500 oats, barley, and plant-based proteins, sold to companies in the health food industry to be processed.

Key Stats:

$2.8B

2023-24 REVENUE IN AUSTRALIA

Due to the lack of regulatory compliance in the organic food production industry, the demand for certified organic produce increased sharply over the past five years. The demand for organic food products is currently double what is produced.

The region offers substantial knowledge and expertise to farmers or investors interested in entering this market. Certified organic farm management expertise and market access are available to farmers interested in diversifying from grazing to producing organic crops in the Southern Grampians region.

80% of shoppers purchased an organic product in the past 12 months

Biowaste to Energy and Value Add Food Production

The proposed Camperdown Industrial Precinct is an Environmentally Sustainable Industrial Waste Treatment Plant to realise a future investment in agricultural value-add processing in the region.

The Corangamite Council seeks investment in biowaste to energy solutions for the Camperdown Production Precinct to realise long-term growth and investment for the region and its stakeholders.

The aim is to establish a net-zero industrial precinct –moving from consumer to net energy generator, aligning with net-zero wastewater treatment, Carbon Neutrality Plan 2030, shared circular economy, and Waste to Energy initiatives to support the national target of 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams.

Significant opportunities for synergy and shared value exist through:

• Renewable energy generation (solar or biogas/ biosolids), and

• Precinct Operational Entity participation –own/operate energy cooperative.

Key Stats: $4–7.8 billion

POTENTIAL NEW INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIA BY 2025

indicative diagram

Potential creation of up to 9,000 construction jobs as well as 2,600 indirect, and 1,400 direct and ongoing jobs in regional and rural areas.

Boutique Artisans

Artisan and small niche producers play an important role in increasing the connection between consumers and industry sustainability practices.

Local producers can take advantage of the large and growing tourism markets travelling through the region, leveraging the high-quality agricultural produce and the region’s pristine environment and natural assets. Worldclass agritourism experiences such as Cheese World near Warrnambool, the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail and The Port Fairy Taste Trail provide visitors with opportunities to immerse themselves in local production and processing.

Several of these operations are multifaceted and embrace agritourism and education, producing with local produce and embedded sustainable business practices.

Key Stats:

Recognising their important role in contributing to and building the Great South Coast regional brand awareness, government support for the sector through grant schemes encourages investment in the production of value-added products like gin, beer, wine, cheese, ice cream, chocolate, and much more…

If you are interested in trade opportunities with our Artisans, see our local produce supplier list on www.12apostlesfoodartisans.com.au and portfairyaustralia.com.au/taste-trail

The

timber industry (forestry and logging) in the Great South Coast is a key plantation and wood products region for Australia, with the Great South Coast encompassing

much of the Victorian side of the Green Triangle Forestry Region that straddles South Australia.

The Green Triangle is a significant forestry region, containing over 334,000 hectares of Tasmanian blue gum and Pinus radiata plantations – much of which is in Victoria’s Great South Coast. The Victorian plantation estate produces $338 million in flow on economic activity, supporting nearly 2,110 jobs with a 4.6% share of the regional economy.

Forest & Wood Products Australia identified the following investment opportunities:

• Metadata & Supply Chain Management in the Forestry Sector

• Heavy vehicle transition to hydrogen

• Automation & robotics in data collection, harvesting and transportation

• Research & development on genetics, crop quality and yield

• Use of forestry byproducts in the production of biofuel and biochar

• Use of forestry byproducts to produce cellulose and nano-composite packaging (intelligent packaging to prolong the longevity of food, food safety, recyclability and self-healing abilities)

• Additive manufacturing & 3D Printing using by-products for application in packaging, construction, aviation, automotive and medical sectors.

Olive Oil

Australian olive oil sales reached $121.6m, a 14.9% increase from the previous year (FY22: $105.8m). With the Mediterranean olive oil supply under pressure after hot and dry conditions, the olive oil sales outlook remains positive, benefiting from a global shortage of olive oil and record high global prices of European olive oil flowing through to Australia and the USA. 50% of olive oil sold in Australia is imported, with the opportunity to grow future export demand.

Geelong Region Olives (GROC) is a national award-winning producer aspiring to grow and be a significant producer of boutique olive oils with an expressed interest in the Great South Coast Region. The unique approach focuses on the product’s provenance and not on the aggregation of the oil under one brand. GROC is seeking investment in further expansion of groves and a local processing plant with farmgate retail and a restaurant.

There is a keen interest from GROC to engage in agricultural research, innovation, and technology, achieving efficiencies in operation. Examples mentioned were:

• Olive groves managed using state of the art smart farming technology integrating farm machinery and sensors, autonomous scouting rovers, and drones along with satellite data into a 360-degree cloud-based AI enabled management system to drive efficiency gains, reduce costs, grow productivity, and improve worker safety.

• Eco-regenerative methods to improve the natural environment, soil fruit quality and yield. The vision for groves is to be established with support for inter-row nitrogen-fixing plantings (e.g. Lucerne) and buffered by plantations of native and indigenous trees to build environments for flora and fauna such as birds and bees.

• Provision of a state-of-the-art olive mill and table fruit processing plant, warehouse and packaging facility. The site would be designed with the potential to develop an upmarket tourism establishment.

Key Stats: $121.6m

The global olive oil market was valued at $14.20 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from $14.64 billion in 2023 to $18.42 billion by 2030. AUSTRALIAN OLIVE OIL SALES

Great South Coast is home to the Grampians and Henty Wine Regions

The landscape of the Grampians wine region is renowned for its natural beauty and produces wines with a rare combination of elegance, beauty and power. Vineyards were first planted in 1867 and included rare grape varieties that have defied all attempts at identification and are probably the sole surviving examples in the world.

Viticulture was pioneered in Henty in 1964 by Karl Seppelt, who accurately perceived it as an ideal cool region for the production of sparkling and delicate, aromatic wines. The sought after Drumborg, Crawford River and Hochkirch Vineyards make the most of the varieties of climate and rich volcanic soils producing Australia’s renowned and highly valued cool-climate wines. Current cool region varieties cultivated include Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Dolcetto.

In the picturesque backdrop of the Grampians, the pristine tourist town of Port Fairy and breathtaking Cape Bridgewater beaches, upmarket opportunities in the Henty & Grampians regions await the distinguished wine growers and makers alike…

Key Stats:

Specialised Crops

Investment in the processing of specialised crops such as poppies for pharmaceutical use, medicinal cannabis, industrial hemp or hops align with the region’s advantages and positions the region well for new and emerging crops.

Agriculture Victoria Research is licensed by the Australian Government to undertake medicinal cannabis research.

Technical and research services offered to growers and manufacturers:

• Commercial licensing of its proprietary medicinal cannabis strains

• Provision of advisory services

• Provision of technical services, including cultivation, extraction, manufacture, and comprehensive compositional analysis of medicinal cannabis

• Collaborative and industry-sponsored research and innovation in medicinal cannabis systems biology and accelerated precision breeding of medicinal cannabis

• Other technical and research services.

Key Stats: 83,000

NUMBER OF PATIENTS VICTORIA COULD PROVIDE FOR BY 2028

Victoria’s industry will aim to supply half of Australia’s market for medicinal cannabis. This is an ambitious goal, but would mean that by 2028, Victoria could provide medicinal cannabis products to 83,000 of the 166,000 potential patients across Australia, with the potential to expand to export markets.

The Great South Coast has the ability to support high-yield outdoor horticulture with more reliable rainfall compared to the rest of Victoria.

With an existing strong food processing base the Great South Coast is well positioned to diversify to high-value, high-growth specialised crops.

Victoria’s industry will aim to supply 50% of Australia’s market for medicinal cannabis

AgTech

Victoria is home to several AgTech start-up incubators and accelerators such as SproutX, RocketSeeder, Startmate and Farmers2Founders.

Victoria has more than 3,200 startups/ technology-driven companies with an investment ecosystem worth over $91 billion.

Several grants and investment opportunities exist in the Great South Coast, facilitating the transition to efficient and intelligent farming systems.

Aquaculture

Salt water aquaculture is a rapidly growing area with an excellent opportunity for growth, given the region’s ideal environment for production.

Great South Coast has a unique and favourable environment for aquaculture production.

The stretch between Port Fairy and Portland is an ideal area for land-based aquaculture with its flat, low, deep ocean frontage and private coastal land ownership. This stretch is currently home to two abalone farms with capacity of up to 360 tonnes of annual production with a further 500 tonne farm proposed in Bolworra near Portland. There is currently strong global demand for seafood, which the region is well placed to benefit from.

Portland Aquaculture Fisheries Reserve (PAFR)

The PAFR is a 200-ha rectangular 'greenfield’ fishing (seaweed and seafood) area, located in Portland Bay approximately 2.6 km offshore, north-east from Blacknose Point. The Victorian Government established the PAFR management plan to develop environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially equitable marine aquaculture that contributes to a significant commercial supply of high-quality seafood.

Aquaculture licensing and Crown leasing arrangements can be applied for through the Victorian Fisheries Authority. https://vfa.vic.gov.au/aquaculture/licensing

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tonnes

Portland Bay

Portland

Portland Aquaculture Fisheries Reserve

Seaweed

Investment in Seaweed research is needed to further develop regional opportunities in collaboration with the private sector.

The DeakinSeaweed Research Group in the Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre has extensive experience in seaweed research; with nationally and internationally recognised expertise in seaweed biology and ecology and application in sustainable aquaculture production, habitat restoration and carbon mitigation/sequestration science.

Moreover, our recent partnerships with the dairy industry have combined phycology (seaweed science), advanced analytical chemistry, microbiology, and agricultural science to examine the effects of supplementing dairy cow diets with a nutritionally formulated bespoke Australian mixed-species seaweed supplement and biochar, in isolation and combination, on the quality and production of milk, methane reduction, animal health and potential greenhouse gas emissions.

This research is ongoing, with preliminary results extremely promising, and opportunities to expand to simultaneously support the development of a sustainable seaweed industry and cost-effective benefits to improving sustainability and future-proofing the Australian dairy, meat and livestock industries.

Key Stats:

Asparagopsis seaweed is projected to feed at least 30% of Australia’s cattle herd by 2025.

$100 million+ opportunity for seaweed over the next five years, with the potential to scale to $1.5 billion over the next 20 years.

CONSIDERING FOOD PROCESSING?

Affordability

$100-$150/m2 compared to Melbourne’s

$250-$670/m2

Renewable Energy

Transitioning to renewable energy options, biowaste to energy integration

Industrial Sites

Land Availability

Approximately 1000 ha zoned, developable land available with the full range of industrial & commercial services

Specialised Skill Base

Specialised renewable energy and marine engineering and logistics skill base

Zoned Sites

Ample supply of large and medium-scale sites zoned for heavy, medium and light industries

Connectivity

In-region food processing with good accessibility to sea, road, rail and air transport

Koroit

GREAT SOUTH COAST

Regional Lifestyle

Home to some of Australia’s most spectacular coastline, as well as forests, plains and ancient rock formation, the communities of the Great South Coast offer a fantastic rural and regional lifestyle.

The Great South Coast is the home of health and wellbeing.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 provides $5.7 billion for regional initiatives, taking the Government’s total investment in regional Victoria to more than $36 billion since 2015.

Locals living in the Great South Coast will also benefit from improvements to the South West TAFE library and learning hub in Warrnambool, and upgrades at Baimbridge College in Hamilton, Terang College and Mortlake P-12 College and the Glenormiston agricultural training centre.

There’s also investment to develop the Budj Bim Master Plan, supporting sustainable tourism growth at this World Heritage site and funding to establish a new statutory authority to manage and protect the Great Ocean Road.

Find out more

The Great South Coast Regional Partnership consists of five municipalities extending from the Shipwreck Coast to the South Australian border and was established in 2016 to embrace regional economic development initiatives.

The Great South Coast local governments’ Economic Futures program embraces a community and market-led approach to identify the most prospective future highproductivity and high-value opportunities in the region’s economy, seeking to facilitate investments and policy reforms to unlock better value from the region’s strengths.

Great South Coast Economic Future works in partnership with Food & Fibre Great South Coast to facilitate regional investment. If you are interested in any opportunities and would like to discuss them further, the Great South Coast Economic Futures or Food & Fibre Great South Coast are ready to take your call. We can facilitate discussions and put you in touch with the key council and government representatives to discuss investment opportunities.

For investment and economic development enquiries, please contact:

Marlien Lourens - Program Manager

Great South Coast Economic Futures

Email: Mlourens@GSCeconomicfutures.onmicrosoft.com Mobile: 0416 644 431

Nicole Newman - CEO

Food & Fibre Great South Coast

Email: ceo@foodfibregsc.com.au Mobile: 0419 132 685 foodfibregsc.com.au