The WA Dairy Five-Year Industry Development Plan was officially launched at the WAFarmers Dairy Conference in Busselton recently, with the aim to build confidence in the Western Australian dairy industry.
The plan, which emerged as a key priority from a ministerial round table with industry last year, will play a major role in supporting future growth and sustainability of the state’s dairy industry.
“It is greatly encouraging to see producers and processors come together to develop a plan for Western Australia’s dairy industry,” WA Agriculture and Food minister Alannah MacTiernan said.
“The WA dairy industry is one of the state’s longest established agricultural industries, largely focused on producing high quality, fresh milk for the local market. However, we must continue to develop more value-added products and new markets for industry to remain viable.”
According to MacTiernan, consumers must be at the heart of the plan.
“They are becoming more discerning and open to new, quality products, with concerns around nutrition, climate change and animal welfare an important part of the story industry tells,” she said.
“I look forward to following the progress of the WA Dairy Industry Working Group and will work enthusiastically with industry to ensure the long-term future of this important industry.”
The working group brought together key dairy supply chain stakeholders to develop the strategy, including farmers, processors, industry groups and government.
The plan aims to increase profitability throughout the supply chain by better understanding emerging consumer trends and responding to local and international market opportunities.
It will promote the industry with one unified voice, to attract new investment and talent into dairy farming, as well as optimising opportunities to de-carbonise the supply chain.