$5.4 million to improve market transparency for Aussie farmers

January 28, 2022
  • $5.4 million investment in market transparency for perishable goods
  • Competitive grants to fund education and training, technologies, products and processes. Applications are open 25 January to 22 February 2022
  • The government is backing strong and resilient supply chains and ensuring everyone is treated fairly and pays their share 

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien has welcomed a $5.4 million Liberals and Nationals Government investment in projects to improve price and market transparency in Perishable Agricultural Goods (PAG) supply chains.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said applications are now open for a $5 million industry grants to help address market imbalances and give Australian farmers a fair go.

“In 2020 the government directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to inquire into the domestic fresh food supply chain,” Minister Littleproud said.

“The ACCC found that farmers often have the least information in the fresh food supply chain and recommended governments and industries explore ways to increase price transparency and competition in PAG industries.

“When market power imbalances exist in the fresh food supply chain, farmers are more vulnerable to take-it-or-leave-it terms from buyers or exploitative conduct.

Mr O’Brien said these competitive grants were an opportunity for industries to apply and improve price and market transparency in their supply chains, as well as helping Aussie farmers make informed business decisions.

“We are backing fair, strong and resilient supply chains and putting in place the frameworks so that our primary producers can succeed, and everyone is treated fairly and pays their share,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Here in Wide Bay, and across Australia, our dairy farmers have been doing it tough with years of drought on top of an unfair pricing structure for their product, so while we are still working to make the dairy industry more equitable for producers, measures put in place as a result of this funding will help as we continue to even the playing field.”

“This is another way the government is helping the agricultural industry achieve its goal of $100 billion by 2030.”

Further information: Improving Market Transparency in Perishable Agricultural Goods Industries – DAWE https://www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/farm-food-drought/food/perishable-ag-goods-industries)

To apply, visit: Home | Community Grants Hub  https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/   

FAST FACTS:

    • The Australian Government is investing $5.4 million for projects to improve market transparency across perishable agricultural goods supply chains.
    • The ACCC inquiry into PAG recommended that governments and industries explore measures to increase price transparency in perishable agricultural goods industries, to increase competition in those industries.
    • Workshops were held in late 2021 with the chicken meat, dairy, horticulture, pork, red meat, seafood, and wine grapes sectors, providing opportunities to identify price and market transparency issues and explore tools and processes to address them.

WELCOME TO WIDE BAY

In the spirit of Australia, I acknowledge all citizens who contribute to making our nation the greatest on earth.

I acknowledge our defence force personnel, past, present, and emerging, for their service to our nation, and particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of Australia.

I also acknowledge the Australian taxpayers who, through their hard work, pay for the infrastructure, health, education, and emergency services that keep our proud nation healthy, safe, and prosperous.