Local food and beverage manufacturers will now able to apply for grant funding under the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) to ramp-up production, commercialise their products and operations, and integrate into domestic and global supply chains.
Food and Beverage is the biggest manufacturing sector in Australia and the fourth of six National Manufacturing Priorities to be supported under the MMI.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the funding would unlock investment and help local food and beverage manufacturers capitalise ‘on the global appetite for Australian made products’.
“The world already can’t get enough of Aussie made food and beverages but there are opportunities to further build on our international reputation for producing premium, safe and high-quality products,” Minister Andrews said.
“Investing in our food and beverage manufacturers will ensure they remain on the front foot and maximise every opportunity to tap into global markets and create jobs here at home.
“To strengthen our economy we need to make the most of our natural advantages in agriculture, and that means adding as much value as we can to raw materials through manufacturing.
“The other great thing about food and beverage manufacturing is its imprint on regional Australia – both in where many of the factories are located and the support for businesses right along the supply chain.”
Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said the funding would also have significant flow-on effects for Australian farmers and agriculture producers.
“Australia already makes world class value-added products from fruit and vegetables, grain mill and cereals, dairy products and meat,” Minister Littleproud said.
“This funding will open up further opportunities for the development of new products and the expansion of existing product lines beyond the farm gate.
“That’s good for our farmers, our transport industry and the regional communities they all support.”
In parallel with the funding announcement, Minister Andrews also released an industry-led road map that sets out a ten-year vision for the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
Opportunities identified include smart processing and packaging methods, products for health and wellbeing and enhanced nutritional value, high value-add products such as those containing new and enhanced proteins, products with strong food safety, origin and traceability systems and the adoption of solutions to increase differentiation of food and beverage products in domestic and overseas markets.
For more information on the road maps and available grant funding visit industry.gov.au/manufacturing.
