The Western Australian government is supporting the growth of the state’s agrifood and beverage sector with new funding to help businesses expand, diversify, and strengthen their operations.
Eight businesses will share more than $437,500 in Value Add Investment Grants for feasibility studies aimed at exploring opportunities for business development and future capital investment.
Wangara-based iPastai will use its $24,500 grant to undertake a consultation project supporting its expansion into new domestic and export markets for handmade fresh and frozen products. The feasibility study will assess how advanced automation can be introduced across production and distribution to support long-term investment and benefit local suppliers and workers.
Other recipients include WA Salt Koolyanobbing, which will use funding to improve food-grade salt quality standards; Western Meat Packers, which will investigate increasing production capacity; and Tingle Ridge Farm, which will explore the development of a multi-species abattoir. As One Nyitting will assess opportunities to expand its bush tea product range.
These feasibility studies will be supported by more than $220,000 in co-investment from grant recipients. Each project aims to lay the groundwork for capital investments that will create jobs and deliver economic benefits across both metropolitan and regional communities.
The initiative complements the program’s Capital Investment Stream, which has provided $23.8 million in grants over the past seven years. This funding has attracted $262 million in private investment and created more than 1,000 jobs across the agrifood and beverage sector.
Agriculture and food minister Jackie Jarvis said the Value Add Investment Grants will help businesses build resilience and capture new opportunities.
“These Value Add Investment Grants will help realise new opportunities in WA’s agrifood and beverage sector. This sector is a significant employer in WA, and has growth potential, particularly in manufacturing and processing,” she said.
“The WA government is committed to creating local jobs and seeing more things made here in WA, including value-add products from our incredible produce.
“Our investment will help futureproof WA businesses, enabling them to expand their operations and adapt to changing markets to remain internationally competitive.”