Questions and Answers
Q. What is the Australian Vegetable Industry Development Group (AVIDG)?
A. The Group is a partnership between the Australian vegetable industry and the Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Q. What is the Group’s purpose?
A. The purpose of the AVIDG is to invest in projects with the highest potential to create positive and lasting change to the Australian Vegetable Industry's profitability, growth and sustainability.
The Group is encouraging industry to take ownership of these projects after it concludes in June 2008 to bring about their long term success.
Q. What are the seven foundation projects?
A. The seven projects are one of the key outputs of the vegetable industry’s ‘Taking Stock and Setting Directions’ report undertaken in 2005. They include -
- Developing a long term industry wide strategic plan, now known as Vegvision 2020.
- Improving farmers’ business skills.
- Improving leadership and industry structures.
- Developing an information and decision framework for industry.
- Introducing rigorous industry benchmarking.
- Assessing the international competitiveness of the vegetable industry.
- Enhancing markets through points of difference and competitive advantages.
Q. When was the Group established?
A. The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, The Hon. Peter McGauran, announced the establishment of the AVIDG on 2 March, 2006.
Q. Who are the group’s members?
A. The members are:
- Richard Bovill (Chairman), Tasmanian vegetable grower
- Michael Badcock, AUSVEG Chairman
- Nigel Steele Scott, HAL Chairman
- Peter Cochrane, VFF Horticulture Group President
- Ian Pavey, Coles Supermarkets National Business Manager Fresh Produce
- Wendy Erhart, Withcott Seedlings Co-Owner
- Sergio Canale, Simplot Australia, Executive General Manager, Supply Chain Division
- John Mercer, Mercer Mooney Wholesalers
- Ian Robinson, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Q. How was the Group’s membership determined?
A. The Group’s structure was recommended as part of the ‘Taking Stock and Setting Directions’ report. The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, The Hon. Peter McGauran, made the appointments based on selection criteria relating to knowledge and experience of the Australian vegetable industry.
Q. Why was it considered necessary to establish a separate group to oversee industry development?
A. The 'Taking Stock and Setting Directions’ report recommended this after consulting with over 160 individuals and groups in the vegetable industry.
Q. What is the Group’s term?
A. Its work will be completed by June 2008.
Q. What has the group achieved so far?
A. The Group has commissioned work under five of the Foundation Projects.
- The first Foundation Project has been completed which was the development of the Australian Vegetable Industry Strategic Plan, Vegvision 2020.
- The Leadership and Industry Structures Foundation Project is now underway and will involve opportunities for the industry to participate in discussions to help shape the future organisational arrangements that are best placed to drive the strategic plan forward when the AVIDG wraps up in June 2008. A number of industry workshops are being held around the country in May to discuss the industry’s future structure. A discussion paper has also been developed to inform these meetings.
- An Export Network has been set up under the Market Development Foundation Project to better understand Australia’s key markets. The Network is made up of seven of Australia’s larger vegetable exporters and will initially focus on China to understand more about its potential as both a competitor and a future market for Australian vegetables. If successful this approach could be used as a blueprint for other potential export markets in the future.
The first step was to prepare a desktop study on market information relating to China. The final report is now complete and will be considered at the May 2007 Export Network meeting to assist in the development of an export business plan.
- A Foundation Project to enhance farmers’ business skills is also underway with the position of People Development Coordinator being recruited. The role of the Coordinator is to enhance human resource capacity across the vegetable industry supply chain. The Coordinator will review existing business skills and training programs and put together a People Development Investment Plan for the whole vegetable supply chain. This position will be funded by the grant until June 2008.
- Under the Industry Information and Decision Framework Foundation Project, vegetable growers will have the opportunity to contribute to the future policy and resource direction of the industry through a survey being conducted by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE). Around 300 growers will be surveyed in May with the results released in late July.
Q. When will other foundation projects begin?
A. Planning for investment in the remaining Foundation Projects is well underway. It is anticipated that all projects will be commissioned by 30 September 2007 or earlier. AVIDG will provide updates on progress as soon as these become available.
AVIDG is on track to complete the Foundation Projects by 30 June 2008.
Q. How will the $3 million in funding for the Foundation Projects be allocated?
A. All funds allocated for work on the foundation projects will be subject to Australian Government procurement guidelines. That means projects will be funded through an open tender process or via grant arrangements with major industry bodies.
For more information please visit www.avidgroup.net.au, or contact the project manager Brian Ramsay at admin@avidgroup.net.au.
