Investment in infrastructure is essential for our Agribusiness, Food & Beverage sector
Tony Pititto
03 Jun 2019
Australia has a reputation for quality produce and products, so much so that that our neighbours in Asia will pay a premium for the “Made in Australia” label.
And rather than seeing the homogenisation of products or the dominance of big brands in Australia, we’re seeing a resurgence in artisan, ethically sourced, and innovative products.
There is always activity in this sector – M&A, inter-state and international expansion, as well as innovative funding models to take businesses to the next level. A great example is Endeavour Brewing Co. Launched in 2010, Endeavour Brewing achieved a major milestone in 2018 – becoming the first Australian brewery to offer shares direct to the public rather than through an ASX listing.
Download our mid-size business report for the full Agribusiness, Food & Beverage sector insight.
Here is a short introduction to our three recommendations to help boost the Food & Beverage sector:
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Improved road, rail and port infrastructureTo ship bananas from Innisfail in Queensland to Melbourne by road, expect to be behind the wheel for approximately 32 hours non-stop. Better access to transport will open up new opportunities for mid-sized business in terms of where they can ship their produce, and the premium they can command for quality and freshness. |
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More affordable energyMachinery, production, climate control for livestock, water management and refrigeration all require energy. Turning the power off to avoid peak loads simply isn’t an option. |
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Incentives for R&DRecently we’ve seen innovations in the dairy sector, extending the shelf life of milk by up to 300% or nearly two months. This kind of innovation is typically driven by industry in collaboration with government and research bodies. We need to encourage more. |
