GW3 study: Research plants seeds for Mackay Isaac Whitsunday exports

The research will identify key export agricultural products in the region and match those to complementary export markets.

GW3 chief executive Kylie Porter

Research will be conducted to identify key agricultural products for export from the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region.

Greater Whitsunday Alliance will lead the study, made possible through project funding from the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia.

GW3 chief executive Kylie Porter said the research would identify key export agricultural products in the region and match those to complementary export markets.

“Maximising our region’s agricultural export potential is an important focus for the future, and we need hard evidence and research to back future export activities,” Ms Porter said.

CRCNA chief executive Anne Stunzner said the regional agricultural supply chain baseline project would build on previous work with GW3 which identified opportunities for producers across the region.

“This second stage of work will build on this foundational work to strengthen the linkages between regionally grown high-value produce and markets and map the supply chain network required to do this effectively,” she said.

Dawson MP George Christensen welcomed the investment into agricultural exports.

“Building on our capabilities in the ag space is a great step forward and I encourage farmers to engage in this process with GW3,” Mr Christensen said.

GW3 is partnering with other key organisations to deliver this work, including North Queensland Bulk Ports, Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsunday, Mackay Airport, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Bowen Gumlu Growers Association.