AgriFood Skills Australia has been invited to give a presentation to the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC), scheduled to meet in Darwin on 22-23 April 2010.   

The PIMC comprises Australian Federal, state/territory and New Zealand Ministers who are responsible for the development of sustainable, innovative and profitable agriculture, fisheries/aquaculture, food and forestry industries.

It represents an important watershed for the agrifood industry and for AgriFood Skills Australia.

AgriFood is in the process of industry consultations to determine the state of the $208 billion a year agrifood industry, which employs up to 900,000 people in rural industries, food processing (including wine and pharmaceuticals), meat, seafood and racing.

The 2009 Environmental Scan Assuming the mantle was launched nationally from the National Press Club - CLICK HERE - in Canberra in April 2009, and it provided a national framework for policy and strategies for AgriFood throughout the year.

The Environmental Scan is a valuable document that reflects contemporary industry data on the agrifood industry and which also canvasses new thinking and directions. It reflects national consulting processes with industry sectors invited to contribute views about skills and workforce needs.

The Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, the Hon Tim Mulherin, MP, announced at a dinner in Brisbane on 10 November - CLICK HERE for his draft speech - that the Primary Industries Ministerial Council had agreed to invite AgriFood Skills Australia to deliver a presentation at its next meeting.


Minister Tim Mulherin with CEO Arthur Blewitt and Chairman John Baker

Mr Mulherin told the meeting of some 60 senior industry and government representatives in Brisbane that he believed AgriFood Skills Australia should address all anual meetings of the PIMC.

AgriFood CEO Arthur Blewitt said that this represented a significant elevation in recognition of the hard work that AgriFood has been doing in regional areas of Australia to identify job, skills and workforce needs. AgriFood has hosted Regional Jobs Summits in Narrabri, NSW, and at Emerald in Queensland.

Both summits were strongly attended by regional organisations.

Mr Blewitt said the dinner in Brisbane was part of efforts to broaden the knowledge and appreciation of Queensland agribusiness.

AgriFood also held a workshop to discuss industry skills and workforce priorities in Queensland as part of our national consultation process for the Environmental Scan 2010.

AgriFood Skills Australia is a public company that receives funding from the Australian Government to identify and address the skill and workforce development needs of the agrifood industry: rural and related industries, food processing (including wine, beverages and pharmaceuticals), meat, seafood and racing.

The company is industry led, with all directors drawn from industry. It has five industry standing committees and has processes in place for broader company membership and for acquiring industry intelligence. This is turn assists AgriFood to provide advice for the Australian Government and Skills Australia and provides the board and management with sound strategic directions for the future.