Macleay Valley Agribusiness Workshop – promoting opportunities in beef, dairy, organics and pasture-raised poultry
Kempsey Shire Council Media Release
June 4, 2015
Local food producers with an interest in beef, dairy, organics and pasture-raised poultry were invited to attend the second in a series of Macleay Valley Food Bowl Agribusiness Workshops, held at Kempsey Shire Council on Monday, 22 June , 2015.
The Workshop program freatured a range of topics and speakers, including representatives from Local Land Services, the Department of Primary Industries, Dairy Australia, the Macleay Valley Dairy Industry Group, Meat & Livestock Australia, the Organic Marketing Company and others. All presentations were professionally videoed and can be found on the website here as a useful resource for local producers.
The aim of the workshop was to identify and accelerate the production of premium agricultural produce within the Macleay Valley to meet existing and projected market demand.
Funding for the workshop was provided by the NSW Government’s Regional Assistance Fund (NSW Agri-food Industry Development Initiative) and Kempsey Shire Council.
“People either registered to attend a session of particular interest to them, or stayed for the full day to hear the broader picture of where our government agencies and industry specialists see the opportunities for growth for the Macleay,” said Council’s Manager, Economic Sustainability, Susannah Smith.
About 50 producers and people with an interest in establishing or expanding their agribusinesses attended the first Macleay Valley Food Bowl Agribusiness Workshop held in Gladstone in March.
“Many of the people who attended the first workshop showed a high level of interest in local agribusiness opportunities and we have heard a number of success stories from people who attended, made good contacts and have increased production and contracts as a result,” Ms Smith said.
“What was evident from the first workshop is that there are significant agribusiness opportunities within the Macleay and many people are exceptionally keen for all kinds of information relating to market opportunities, growing tips, and how to win contracts and run a profitable and sustainable agribusiness.”