- Author Greater Whitsunday Alliance, AEC Group Ltd
- Publish date 5 October 2022
- Type Report
- ISBN 978-1-922437-40-2
- Documents
- Horticulture
- Strategic policy development
- Supply chain development
Summary
To support the development of the agricultural sector in the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (MIW) region, the Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) have undertaken an economic analysis to understand the market, export potential and any barriers to success, as part of the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday regional agricultural supply chain baseline project.
The primary objective of this report is to present the technical analysis developed for this project. The report provides an overview of key products for export in the Greater Whitsunday region and the preferred markets for each commodity. The information contained in this report is intended to be used in the following ways:
- Shape current and future government policy to remove barriers to investment in agribusiness supply chains
- De-risk the development of infrastructure required to enable more efficient supply chains
- Detail how GW3 and the Agribusiness Futures Alliance project steering committee members can drive behaviour change within the regional grower community. The findings will be used to identify how organisations can support more local agribusinesses into new supply chains and value adding and consumer/market ready opportunities.
Key takeaways include:
- As the MIW region’s independent economic development organisation, there is a role for GW3 to pursue policy changes and infrastructure investments that can improve the economic performance of the MIW region.
- GW3 is also uniquely placed to de-risk investment opportunities and deliver a regional agribusiness investment attraction campaign.
- Industry associations in the MIW region (either commodity-based, such as AgForce or Queensland Seafood Industry Association or those with a specific geographic interest, such as Bowen-Gumlu Growers Association) have an opportunity to support their members to realise additional development opportunities.
Projects
Mackay Isaac Whitsunday regional agricultural supply chain baseline study
The Mackay Isaac Whitsunday (MIW) Regional Agricultural Supply Chain Baseline Study built on the earlier Mackay Isaac Whitsunday Agribusiness Export Supply Chain Mapping Study (A.1.1819039), providing a more detailed assessment of the region’s agricultural industries, supply chains, export opportunities and infrastructure requirements. While the earlier project focused on mapping export freight movements and identifying broad supply chain constraints, this project expanded the analysis to examine market opportunities, commodity profitability, higher-value production options and pathways to new domestic and international markets. The study developed a comprehensive baseline of the MIW agricultural sector, valued at approximately $1.36 billion in annual production, and analysed key industries including livestock, sugarcane, horticulture, broadacre cropping and seafood. It assessed existing supply chains, identified barriers to growth and evaluated opportunities to increase regional value-adding, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen export competitiveness. The project highlighted significant opportunities for industry expansion through new irrigation developments, aquaculture, rotational cropping systems, feedlot development and greater local processing. It also identified priority infrastructure investments, including improved freight and containerisation facilities, enhanced road and rail connections and expanded water infrastructure to support future agricultural growth. The findings have provided government, industry and regional development organisations with an evidence-based roadmap for agricultural investment and export development across the MIW region. Together with the earlier export supply chain mapping project, the study has strengthened regional planning and investment decision-making, helping position the region to grow agricultural production, access new markets and capture greater value from its agricultural supply chains.