AN AMBITIOUS plan to grow SA's food, wine and agribusiness sectors to $23 billion by 2030 was launched today.
Part of the State Government's Growth State initiative, the food, wine and agribusiness sector plan outlines a growth pathway for an industry which supports more than 76,000 jobs across SA.
"Food, wine and agribusiness are key pillars of SA's economy, and their importance has been further highlighted in recent times as we've worked through recovery efforts, first for drought and bushfire, then COVID-19," Primary Industries Minister David Basham said.
"I'm proud to launch this industry-led plan to grow these sectors to $23 billion by 2030 through expansion and innovation.
"In 2018-19, SA primary industries and agribusiness revenue totalled $15.2 billion, directly supporting over 76,000 jobs. Working together with these vital economic sectors, we will continue to grow what is already our largest export sector."
The plan focuses on six key components including adopting new technology to grow productivity, developing a skilled workforce, improving digital and transport infrastructure, creating new market opportunities, ensuring sustainable production and establishing an operating environment that is supported by responsive and effective regulation.
Mr Basham said the government was supporting industry growth through initiatives such as the $150 million Regional Growth Fund, the $25m rebuild of the SA Dog Fence and the $10m mobile blackspot program.
"This plan has been created alongside industry, for industry, and provides direction and focus on six key areas with high growth potential," he said.
"Our produce is known around the world as some of the best and we want to enable the great work already being done in this sector to sustainably increase, so we can share even more of what we do with the rest of Australia and the world."
Primary Producers South Australia executive chairman Rob Kerin said primary production industries had faced the great adversities of recent years with both strength and courage.
"We now need to channel that into growing our industries, to increase profits and production," he said.
SA Wine Industry chief executive Brian Smedley said SA was the nation's wine state and the plan gave the wine and grape industry a unique proposition to look toward a sustainable growth trajectory through adoption of key initiatives.
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