NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.Denise Millar
Specialised Rural Industries
Coordinator
Division of Primary Industries
Department of Natural Resources & Environment
PO Box 2500
East Melbourne Vic 3002
Telephone: 03 9637 8488
Facsimile: 03 9637 8119
Email: Denise.Millar@nre.vic.gov.au
Victoria's new Specialised Rural Industries Strategic Plan for 1998-2003 is about to be released. This plan builds on the earlier New and Emerging Industries Strategic Plan. The name was changed to better describe the nature of the industries represented; these range from Asian vegetables to wildflowers and from buffaloes to horses. Much of the work of the program deals with non-mainstream horticultural crops.
These industries are estimated to be worth at least $500 million a year to Victoria at the farm gate. Exports were estimated to be worth at least $70 million in 1996/97 (undoubtedly an under-estimate). Several industries are experiencing rapid growth.
The program's vision is:
A profitable, competitive and sustainable specialised rural industries sector that enhances the viability of rural communities and contributes to Victoria's economic growth.
The emphasis of the program is now on products, rather than on commodities, and on meeting market needs.
The program has been re-stuctured to focus on two key projects: New farm diversification opportunities and market-driven industry development.
The first project concentrates on identifying and evaluating new industries and products and promoting them as diversification opportunities. The second project concentrates on facilitating industry development and solving constraints where strong market signals exist.
Two major 'sub-projects', funded by the Victorian Government's Agriculture & Food Initiative, are bringing about a significant change of direction in the program.
The Farm Diversification Information Service collates and disseminates information on over 100 new or prospective industries. It monitors their development and provides a link between producers, industry organisations and market outlets in Victoria and other States.
The New Crops and Products Project aims to identify and evaluate new plant-derived products with medicinal properties for the growing nutraceutical market. One investigation currently underway is examining an extract from garlic with the potential to lower human cholesterol levels.
An integral part of the New Crops and Products Project is the development of a 'front-end' evaluation method for determining which development opportunities govern-ment should invest in. The method takes into account market feasibility.
Commodity areas currently identified within the Strategic Plan are: Asian vegetables; buckwheat, buffaloes, essential oils, fodder crops, garlic, honeybees, horses, organic produce, pasture seeds, specialty fibres, tobacco, wildflowers and native plants. The Plan's priorities will change as existing industries evolve and new ones emerge.
The Department gratefully acknowledges the support of the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation and the Tobacco Research & Development Corporation who co-invest in much of the work of the Specialised Rural Industries Strategy.
For further information contact:
Denise Millar
Specialised Rural Industries
Coordinator
Division of Primary Industries
Department of Natural Resources & Environment
PO Box 2500
East Melbourne Vic 3002
Telephone: 03 9637 8488
Facsimile: 03 9637 8119
Email: Denise.Millar@nre.vic.gov.au
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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