SA Government provides $277,000 for Limestone Coast food and wine cluster projects

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Image credit: freedigitalphotos By: franky242

South Australian Limestone Coast region will receive a $277,000 financial boost from the State Government’s Food and Wine Co-Innovation Cluster Program which is aimed at assisting the establishment of cluster groups in the Murraylands and Riverland and Limestone Coast regions.

Image credit: freedigitalphotos By: franky242
Image credit: freedigitalphotos By: franky242

Clusters are groups of businesses collaborating together on an ongoing basis and based on business needs.

“The Food and Wine Co-Innovation Cluster Program recognises that industry-led collaboration can lead significant improvement in productivity and competitiveness. Through these grants, businesses will be working together to create efficiencies and increase sustainability in the wine, meat, dairy and potato industries in the Limestone Coast region,“ said Agriculture Food and Fisheries Minister Leon Bignell in a media release.

“Such collaboration supports the State Government’s Premium Food and Wine from our Clean Environment strategic priority to enhance industry productivity, ensure the security of South Australian food production, and build the position and profile of the State’s industries and regions.”

The funding will be used to accelerate activities, develop collaboration, progress the formation of industry clusters and enhance profitability.

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“There’s significant evidence showing that when government, industry and communities work together there’s a greater return on investment for everyone. These projects show great initiative and innovation by bringing these elements together, benefiting South Australia’s food and wine industries, with a really positive economic outcome for the whole region,” said Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock.

“In particular, the Limestone Coast’s inclusion as one of the cluster pilot regions is delivering on a key outcome of the Limestone Coast Economic Diversification Forum facilitated by the State Government and now locally led. The Forum was a result of the Premier’s commitment to bring together visionary regional leaders to think innovatively around new economic development opportunities, and the locally formed Limestone Coast Economic Diversification Group has since implemented several outcomes of the Forum, the cluster program key amongst them.”

The four successful applicants from the Limestone Coast and their projects are: Coonawarra Grape and Wine Incorporated; Naracoorte Lucindale Council; Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast Inc.; Dairy SA.

“The groups receiving funding will be supported by Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) through free workshops and by making connections between the project groups and other relevant Government and industry stakeholders. PIRSA is also designing a network and awareness program to assist project participants in getting the optimum benefits from enhanced collaboration,” Minister Bignell said.