THE Central West has the makings to become a hub for biotechnology and high-tech food processing, a new report has found.
The report, ‘Value Adding to Agriculture in Central West NSW’, compiled by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West, showcases a range of existing businesses in the region squeezing extra value from locally-grown commodities and points to the potential for other like-minded businesses.
Businesses profiled in the report include Agritechnology, Orange, which extracts nutrients from second-grade cherries and MSM Milling, Manildra, which processes canola seed into oil and meal products.
A plethora of local pollies gathered at Agritechnology on Tuesday to launch the report and discuss the potential of the region, which has been knocked around in recent years by the departure and scale-back of multiple big businesses.
Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee threw his support behind RDA’s findings, commending local agribusinesses for leading the way.
“Manufacturing and value adding faces considerable challenges but local businesses are already doing it and making great strides and taking their product to the world,” Mr Gee said.
Currently just 65pc of agricultural commodities produced in the Central West leave the region without any value-adding.
“Governments need to do what they can to support these types of businesses.”
The report, by RDA Central West projects officer Julia Andrews, Orange, will now serve as a road map to develop the region’s value-adding industry.
Check out this short video on why Central West agribusinesses live and work in the region: