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Dairy Competitiveness Project Workshop in Toowoomba

At the Dairy Symposium held in Melbourne in March 2024 a cross section of participants from all dairy supply chains come together to discuss ‘all things dairy’.

 

From this symposium, the government decided to design and facilitate a series of regional industry workshops in all states, to ask for recommendations to enhance the Australian dairy industry’s productivity and competitiveness.

 

The Queensland regional workshop, convened by Dairy Australia was held in Toowoomba on 5 November and was designed to explore the drivers of competitiveness and productivity for dairy, focussing on the trends and issues most relevant to the Queensland dairy industry.

 

Participants from across the dairy industry were invited to attend the workshop and represent, operate and/or manage key segments along the dairy supply chain.

 

The workshop aimed to:

 

  • Explore the drivers of productivity and industry competitiveness

  • Discuss the regional dynamics impacting competitiveness

  • Inform how industry and government can collaborate to enhance the dairy industry's competitive position for the region and nationally

 

A pre-workshop pack was circulated prior to the workshop, which provided background information to participants and key themes to be considered. A survey was undertaken pre workshop and both farmers and industry representatives have given feedback. Many of the issues raised in Queensland have been flagged in other states.

The pre-workshop survey showed that farmers:

  • Are dependent on the local fresh milk market

  • Believe there is a lack of regional focused and delivered RDE

  • Don’t believe there is sufficient training or education

  • Are exposed to milk movement from other states and demand dynamics

  • The local value proposition is not valued or communicated

More input from discussions relating to key issues raised by the group at the Toowoomba workshop will be gathered. A report will be written for the Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on how to improve productivity and competitiveness in the dairy industry.

Lynelle Rogers, eastausmilk

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