The CRC for Developing Northern Australia’s (CRCNA’s) new project “Exporting perishable commodities to Asia” will aide expansion and development of perishable commodities in Northern Australia.

Coordination through the supply chain between growers, processors, marketers and transporters is the main impediment to exporting perishable commodities to Asian markets.

This project will examine stakeholder collaboration in planning and investment for exporting high value perishable agricultural commodities (HVPACs) from Northern Australia to Asian markets.

Central Queensland University, Growcom, Rockhampton Regional Council, Overseas Investment Union of China, Tropical Pines Pty Ltd, Passionfruit Australia, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Queensland Department of State Development are working together on the project which will run until September 2020 and will receive $259,000 funding from the CRCNA with a total project value of $676,000.

The project explores multi-party collaborations in producing and processing perishable commodities, investigates developing and enabling supply chain infrastructure and identifies policy and regulatory barriers to investment in the sector.

CRCNA Chair Sheriden Morris said the research is expected to deliver a 5% increase in overall GDP across Northern Australia (approximately $9 billion) in the next five to ten years.

“To obtain better access to Asian markets, businesses across the supply chain need to work together efficiently,” Sheriden said.

“The generation of a successful stakeholder collaboration model has the potential to not only impact existing businesses but enable growth and further investment opportunities across the region.”

Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said this is just one of many key projects that Council’s Advance Rockhampton Economic Development team is driving for the Region.

“Council will focus on developing the international linkage between our Region and China, which over the course of the next three years, will create a tangible platform for trade and investment,” Mayor Strelow said.

“We will look at how we can increase our market access, develop supply chain efficiencies and create the right environment that allows us to provide better access for local producers to export to Asia.”

The Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) is an initiative of the white paper on developing Northern Australia and is a core element of the Australian Government’s agenda for developing the north. The program is proudly supported by Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Government of Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Northern Territory Government Department of Trade, Business and Innovation.

Visit crcna.com.au for more details and to subscribe to updates.

Media Contact: Jed Matz, Chief Executive Officer – (07) 4401 5035