Chapter 4.4
Shared strategies between government and industry to support
value-adding activities
4.83 A number of suggested strategies were put forward during the
inquiry which could possibly involve both government and agriculturally related industry
working cooperatively together. These strategies, targeted at achieving value-adding in
agricultural production, included:
- identification of market needs and opportunities;
- identification of regions where value-adding industries maybe
established;
- collection, assessment, preparation and distribution of information
on value-adding opportunities to potential producers of value-added
products; [105]
- promotion of a climate of cooperation and shared objectives between
industry and government;
- improving access to capital; [106]
- recognising that there is a legitimate, essential, integral and ongoing
role for government; [107]
- better market research and improved knowledge of marketing
opportunities for value-added products;
- improving marketing skills and structures; [108]
- identification of those areas of technological innovation that are
likely to be a high priority for value-adding industries and assessing
the extend to which public R&D activities reflect these priorities;
[109]
- fostering of a strong export culture; [110]
- improving export marketing efforts particularly, in key Asian markets;
[111]
- the provision of “export market entry mechanisms”,
including possible overseas partners and the management of joint ventures and alliance
relationships; and
- assessing the technology and market strategies of overseas firms,
particularly competitors in export markets. [112]
Conclusions and recommendation
4.84 The Committee encourages all levels of government to work in a
cooperative manner with industry groups to increase and improve the quality of
value-adding activities in agriculturally based industries.
4.85 The Committee appreciates that Commonwealth Government agencies
are involved in many of the suggested shared strategies set out above. However, the
Committee strongly encourages all relevant government authorities to review their
involvement in these activities and ascertain how they can further strengthen their
involvement with industry groups to support value-adding activities.
4.86 In relation to supporting the export of value-added products
the Committee sees an important role for the Commonwealth Government, particularly
Austrade. The Committee recommends that Austrade review its programs and activities
formulated to enhance the export of agriculturally based value-added products.
Footnotes
[105] Submission, Department of
the Environment, Sport and Territories, p. 2.
[106] Horticultural Task Force, Strategies
for Growth in Australian Horticulture, Canberra, February 1994, p. iii.
[107] Peter McKerrow, Value-Adding to
Agriculture, Agricultural Science, Vol. 5, No. 2, March 1992, pp. 32-33.
[108] Evidence, Victorian
Government, p. 30.
[109] Department of Industry, Technology
and Commerce, Innovations and Competitiveness in the Australian Processed Food
Industry, prepared by the Centre for Technology and Social Change, University of
Wollongong, AGPS, 1990, p. xiii.
[110] Peter McKerrow, Value-Adding to
Agriculture, Agricultural Science, Vol. 5, No. 2, March 1992, pp. 32-33.
[111] Horticultural Task Force, Strategies
for Growth in Australian Horticulture, Canberra, February 1994, p. iii.
[112] Department of Industry, Technology
and Commerce, Innovations and Competitiveness in the Australian Processed Food
Industry, prepared by the Centre for Technology and Social Change, University of
Wollongong, AGPS, 1990, p. ix.