Food and beverage

Tasmania offers opportunities for investment in a wide range of agriculture and aquaculture-based industries. Investors in Tasmania's food industry benefit from a number of competitive features including:

an international reputation for quality, with many products commanding premium prices
overseas food and beverage sales into established markets earn Tasmania more than A$440 million a year
easy access to the Australian market and niche export markets, particularly in Asia
the ability to supply out-of-season fresh produce including fruit, vegetables and flowers to northern hemisphere markets
island isolation, resulting in an absence of major pests and diseases, enabling the strict control over use of residue pesticides
a temperate climate, clean air, rich soils, reliable rain and clean surrounding oceans.

There are many opportunities for investment in food production and value-adding processes for both agriculture and aquaculture products. Tasmania has rich and varied marine resources and a sophisticated aquaculture industry. Aquaculture products now challenge the wild fisheries in terms of economic performance. Premium products include rock lobster, farmed Atlantic salmon, trout and Pacific oysters, wild and farmed abalone and scallops. Opportunities exist for other species to be commercialised.

There are also opportunities to produce agricultural products for Australian and international markets. Investors benefit from relatively cheap land and high levels of productivity. A range of specialty field crops has been successfully commercialised in Tasmania. Pyrethrum, opium poppies, essential oils and buckwheat are examples of successful new export crops involving off-shore investment. Trade opportunities have recently been enhanced with the opening of many new markets.

Tasmania grows nearly 10 per cent of Australia's vegetable exports and 60 per cent of Australia's apple exports. Tasmania is world competitive in milk production and dairy outputs are rapidly increasing. A diverse range of products including confectionary, cheeses, milk and butter are exported.

Tasmania is also a leading producer of fresh vegetables for niche international markets. Processed vegetables are produced for the fast food industries including frozen french fries and green peas. The state has an enviable reputation as a producer of premium meat and smallgoods. The quality of Tasmania’s produce and the purity of the water make it the ideal location for firms involved in processing premium food and beverages.

The Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s Development Projects provides project facilitation and investment attraction services to companies involved in the food and beverage sector in Tasmania. The unit provides a range of assistance services to new projects, such as, but not limited to:

working with industry and other government agencies in industry development planning
addressing business environment issues
advice on planning procedures and licensing requirements
hosting potential investors
referrals to potential suppliers, customers, local experts and infrastructure providers
finance facilitation and advice including financial assistance for selected projects of strategic significance which demonstrate the greatest potential for sustainable development.

Visit the Tasmanian Food and Beverage Guide.

Contact

Department of Economic Development and Tourism
ph: +61 3 6233 5888
fax: +61 3 6233 5800
email: info@development.tas.gov.au

Useful links

Food Industry Council of Tasmania
Industry Plan

Tasmania's Aquaculture Business Approvals Package
www.bap.tas.gov.au

Tasmanian Salmon Growers Association Limited
www.tsga.com.au

Tasmanian Apple and Pear Growers Association
www.tapga.asn.au

Tasmanian Stonefruit Growers Association
www.tasstonefruit.asn.au

Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment
www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au