The state government has announced $500,000 in funding for the Great South Coast Food and Fibre Plan.
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State regional development minister Jaala Pulford said the plan would drive strategies for the development of agricultural industries in the south-west.
The Great South Coast Food and Fibre Plan, which has been in development for the past five years, aims to lift the productivity of the estimated 40 per cent of farms that are not reaching their true potential in the region.
Its goals include leveraging the growing global demand for protein and Australia’s reputation for safe and sustainable food, further developing the market for provenance branded grass-fed beef and lamb and turning Australia’s strengths in animal welfare and food safety to a marketing advantage.
The funding for the plan will be announced at the final meeting for this year of the Great South Coast Regional Assembly in Portland on Thursday night.
Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said the funding was a triumph for the people who have worked hard on the concept.
“People like Basil Ryan and Georgina Gubbins, other farmers and committee members have worked hard to develop this plan over the past five years and have advocated strongly,” Mrs Britnell said.
“Others will try and take the credit for this, but it’s down to the hard work of the committee,” she said.
Mrs Britnell said the Food and Fibre Plan was a passion of hers, having been a founding member of the steering committee before she was elected to state parliament.