The House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources has released its report on the inquiry into food and beverage manufacturing in Australia, titled, “Food for Thought: The opportunities and challenges for Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry.”
The report presents 23 recommendations aimed at strengthening the sector, as revealed in a news release.
Committee Chair Rob Mitchell MP highlighted the significance of the sector in the context of global population growth, stating that by 2040, the world’s population is expected to reach nine billion.
He pointed out that Australia’s well-regarded production of high-quality, sustainable food products creates valuable opportunities for expansion both within the country and overseas.
“Australia is well-positioned to capitalise on its ‘clean and green’ reputation and ability to innovate and expand product range to further increase its market share, both domestically and internationally.”
The report identifies multiple opportunities to expand the food and beverage manufacturing sector, including increasing export potential, adopting new technologies, leveraging Australia’s competitive advantages, and enhancing value-added production.
Mitchell stated that capitalising on these opportunities would position Australian manufacturers more competitively in global markets.
Among the report’s key recommendations is the development of a National Food Plan to guide the industry’s growth and resilience.
The Committee has also called for increased support from Austrade to assist small and medium enterprises in exporting Australian food and beverage products to Asia.
Other recommendations include addressing skills shortages in the sector and promoting automation technologies to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Further details on the inquiry and access to the full report are available on the inquiry’s website.
