The Limestone Coast Food and Beverage Strategic Plan 2023-2033 was recently launched at Wild Game Wines in Naracoorte.
The innovative plan was developed by the Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness Cluster and is a bold vision for Limestone Coast food and beverage industries.
The plan was created to provide a framework for the development of these industries with the strategic vision of economic prosperity and growth for the Limestone Coast food, beverage and agribusiness sectors.
“We will do this by increasing the value of Limestone Coast food and beverages produced by 8% or $65m from $814.6m to $879.7m by 2033,” the plan states.
The plan comprises five strategic pillars accompanied by strategic outcomes, which contribute to achieving the strategic vision.
The pillars include ‘people,’ ‘place,’ ‘product, marketing, and promotion,’ ‘transport, infrastructure, and services’ and ‘better together.’
Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness Cluster chair Danielle Lannin-England said the plan linked in with the South Australian Food Plan and the National Food Plan.
“It encourages us to look at manufacturing hubs within the region which grows economic value, it also grows job and employment opportunities,” she said.
“It also encourages us to look at the circular economy and to develop a packaging industry within the region, so all these things will drive the region forward and into the 21st century rather than relying one some of those more traditional, but yet profitable, industries that we have got.
“It is more than just food tourism or putting our region on a global map, it is actually about what do we need, how can we make the most of the food revolution and how can we position our region so it continues to grow.
“And continuing to develop the ‘foodpreneur’ space, so the entrepreneurial food businesses that we have got a plethora of across the region and providing support for them too, so they know that when they are investing, they are investing wisely.”
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said although there was a cluster of businesses in the Limestone Coast food and beverage business, the plan was broader and was a strategy for the whole region.
“When you think about all the different types of food and beverage that we have, a lot of it is internationally renowned,” Minister Scriven said.
“It was a really forward-thinking approach they have made to it, and it was great to be able to be there and be a part of the launch and also talk with local producers about some of the things they are doing and what they would like to see.”
Minister Scriven said the plan had a major focus on collaboration amongst not only food and beverage businesses, but across other sectors also.
“It asks other industries such as education, manufacturing, logistics and forestry to work with the food and beverage industries to optimise their potential,” she said.
Minister Scriven believed it was important Limestone Coast businesses worked together because it was the greatest way to maximise opportunities.
“To be able to market ourselves for our own competitive advantages we have, our own distinct food and beverage offerings and also linking that into the tourism offering, all of those together means we will potentially be able to attract more visitors, attract more consumers and increase our markets.
Ms Lannin-England said it was important Limestone Coast industries worked together because it put the region on the global stage.
“Now we have got the regional brand in Proudly Limestone Coast, it just means that if consumers try a nice wine from the region, then they might try some nice food or some crayfish or something like that,” she said.
Ms Lannin-England encouraged food businesses to join Proudly Limestone Coast and also share their pain points so they could continue working with them to drive their business and industry forward.
Membership forms and the strategic plan are accessible via www.proudlylimestonecoast.com.au
