The NSW government is encouraging a new wave of primary production manufacturing across regional NSW, unveiling a prospectus designed to support the growth of the plant-based protein sector.
The document forms part of the government’s plan to strengthen regional economies, build new industries and create jobs and investment opportunities.
It targets metropolitan and international food manufacturers, encouraging them to consider regional NSW as a base for their operations.
“With more than 4,500 food and beverage manufacturing businesses and high-quality research and development facilities, we have the skills and infrastructure to turn high-quality crops into premium plant-based protein products,” said minister for agriculture and regional NSW Tara Moriarty.
“Regional NSW offers the ideal combination of resources and advantages, from efficient transport networks and export-ready ports to skilled workforces and affordable industrial land, creating a compelling case for investors and manufacturers.
“This prospectus is about building on those strengths to grow jobs, drive innovation and ensure NSW captures its share of a rapidly expanding global market for healthy, sustainable food.”
The prospectus outlines the competitive advantages of regional NSW, including:
- Access to high-quality raw commodities suitable for plant-based protein manufacturing, with the capacity to scale production and meet growing demand.
- Access to consumer markets, with regional NSW positioned to deliver goods to 81 per cent of Australia’s domestic market overnight.
- A skilled workforce supported by export-ready ports and affordable industrial land.
- A research and development network encouraging collaboration between universities, DPIRD, CSIRO, government and agribusiness.
It also identifies five key regions suited to plant-based protein manufacturing: Riverina Murray, New England North West, Central West Orana, North Coast and Hunter Central Coast.
Plant-based protein manufacturing involves processing crops such as chickpeas, soybeans, lentils and grains into high-protein food products including meat alternatives, protein powders, dairy-free drinks and snacks without using animal products.
With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, agricultural and food production will need to increase by up to 61 per cent. Regional NSW already produces millions of tonnes of plant protein crops each year, offering strong conditions for manufacturers supported by market access, skilled labour and advanced research.
Developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in partnership with Investment NSW, the prospectus also showcases government programs that support industry growth, innovation and streamlined approvals for investors.
“We’re seeing a shift in how people think about food, from what they eat to how it’s produced. This is being driven by multiple factors, including changing dietary needs and increasing awareness of health, sustainability and climate in response to future population growth,” said Professor Brent Kaiser of legume biology and molecular genetics at the University of Sydney.
“By 2050, we’ll need to increase global agricultural crop calorie production by around 47–61 per cent just to keep up. That’s a huge pressure point on the production of sustainable protein sources – the development of plant-based protein foods offers a big part of the solution.”