Joint media release: Backing Australian farmers to expand horizons in 2021

The Australian Government is investing $72.7 million to help Australian farming, forestry and fishing exporters to expand and diversify their export markets in 2021 as part of its Agri-Business Expansion Initiative.

Scaled up export support services to help over 2,000 Australian agri-food exporters expand their international markets, greater access to market intelligence, matched grants for government and industry associations to work together on market expansion, and additional technical experts to open and expand market access are key planks of the package announced today by the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan and Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam.

Minister Littleproud said that this new package of measures would kick off early in 2021, providing rapid support to Australian farmers, fishers, foresters and other agri-food exporters.

“Australia produces the best food and fibre in the world, and we grow enough food to feed 75 million people every year. Ever-expanding market access is fundamental and key to us reaching a $100 billion agriculture sector by 2030.

“Diversifying your customer base is a basic principle of doing business and markets don’t sit still so we shouldn’t either. We need to continually be working with industry to maintain, expand and create markets for our primary producers.

“There is no doubt that the global appetite for Australia’s high-quality produce is strong, however developing new markets doesn’t happen overnight. These measures build on the $328 million Congestion Busting package announced in this year’s budget and will help industries and businesses identify new opportunities in partnership with government,” Minister Littleproud said today.

Minister Tehan said the package would build on the Australian Government’s work to expand free trade agreements and market access for Australia’s globally competitive and market-based agricultural sector by enabling Austrade to scale up its exporter services.

“Trade plays a critical role in our economy, supporting one in five Australian jobs, and we want to ensure our agribusinesses have access to the right services and information to continue growing and expanding their overseas markets,” Minister Tehan said.

“This initiative will see government work in partnership with industry and individual businesses to map out new export markets and opportunities and take full advantage of the Government’s extensive trade and investment network to strengthen their businesses.”

Assistant Minister Duniam said timely, in-depth market intelligence would help Aussie agribusinesses make important strategic business decisions.

“Our exporters are adjusting to more difficult market conditions, particularly across our agriculture industries, and high-quality market information and advice will help them successfully navigate the year to come,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“Australia produces world-class seafood and timber, and this package will help exporters expand into new markets, operate with confidence and support local jobs.”

The package comprises:

• $42.9 million to scale up support to over 2,000 agri-food exporters each year through Austrade’s services. Austrade will also work with industry bodies to deliver targeted advice and trade missions (where possible) to help exporters grow in existing and new markets. 
• A $18.4 million expansion of the governments successful Agricultural Trade and Market Access program (ATMAC). Through the revised ATMAC program the government will partner with industry associations to improve Australia’s access to overseas markets, including through research, training, and capital works that support improved market diversification.
• $3.5 million for additional short-term Agriculture Counsellors to rapidly build targeted relationships and ensure a sharp focus on actions necessary to grow agricultural exports, complementing the work of our existing Counsellor network.
• A $6.8 million investment in enhanced scientific and technical market access capability, expanding the number of Australian scientists who are pursuing industry priorities in emerging and growth markets.
• A $1 million boost to our market intelligence capability to give exporters the information they need to grow their exports.

For more information about the Agri-Business Expansion Initiative.