SW bid to be Asia "food bowl"

An action plan to transform South West agriculture and better position the region to take advantage of Asian markets has been released.

The report by Deloitte Access Economics outlines key strategies for taking the sector into greener, more lucrative pastures.

Keys to opening up fresh opportunities and increasing profitability for the region's agribusinesses were identified as overcoming market structure issues, investing in skills and technology, reviewing biosecurity controls, reducing red tape and improving the water framework.

The study confirmed opportunities to meet South-East Asia's increasing demand for food and agriproducts, said South West Development Commission chief executive officer Don Punch.

"The industry in the South West is well-placed to take advantage of South-East Asia's - and particularly China's - growing desire for safe, reliable, high-quality food produce," he said.

"By acting on the areas highlighted in the report, we can better position the region's beef, dairy and horticultural sectors so they are primed to grasp market opportunities."

The blueprint also highlighted growth opportunities for the $630 million-a-year industry, said Regional Development Australia's South West executive officer, Charles Jenkinson. He said the next stage was to gather feedback and identify the actions with the most potential for change.

The report was prepared at the request of the RDA, SWDC and Department of Agriculture and Food and can be downloaded from www.swdc.wa .gov.au or www.rdasouthwest.com.au .