Agrifood sector in Western Australia gets further boost

Long-running government programme assists another 80 businesses.

A new batch of agrifood and beverage businesses in Western Australia (WA) will be provided access to expert advice valued at nearly $450k (AU$680k) as part of the state's continuing Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Programme.

The government initiative has been in place since 2018, issuing over 436 professional advice vouchers worth AU$2.4m. In the latest round, 80 businesses will share in more than AU$680k worth of assistance.

"This programme is supporting hundreds of diverse WA agrifood and beverage businesses, from wine and spirits, to chocolate and coffee, to ready-made meals and health supplements right across our State," said Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson.

"I look forward to seeing how this round of vouchers will benefit businesses and the flow on benefits to regional communities and economies."

Areas of focus for the new round include business planning, sales and marketing, environmental sustainability, and manufacturing for growth.

"The strong interest in the Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Programme highlights the value of this initiative in helping businesses seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and build growth, innovation, and resilience in a sustainable way," Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis commented.

"This long-running and highly successful programme is also equipping these businesses with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to strengthen operations, innovate, and expand."

Voucher recipients have used the expert advice in improving production efficiencies, developing new product lines, creating distribution channels, and accessing new markets.