Note from the Forum Executive June 2014 There has been a lot happening for agribusinesses in the G21 region. This partly reflects an increasting awareness that the agribusiness sector offers many opportunities for growth. Some of the recent opportunities in this regard include the annocuncement that Accensi is establishing a manufacturing centre at Lara with support from the Geelong Region Innovation Investment Fund (GRIiF), Great Southern Waters abolone farm also received support from the GRIIF, establishment of the Covenant College Trade Skills Centre for agriculture, a successful Australian Manufatuirng and Farming Program Geelong is Strong day, a tour of local innovative agribusinesses with visiting US expert in rural enterpreneurship Tom Lyons, and an Australia China Business Council initaitive to develop collaborative groups to expand business opportunites with China. These are just a small sample of activities supporting the agribusinss sector in our region. The G21 Agribusiness forum aims to keep you informed of such activities. As part of this we continue to highlight innovative local agribusinesses through our innovation hotspot profiles – this month featuring Brown Magpie Wines. Please let us know if you have any feedback. INNOVATION HOTSPOT PROFILE Brown Magpie Wines Adapting knowledge to produce quality products Talking to Loretta and Shane Breheny, the owners of Brown Magpie Wines, you come away with the impression that they have harnessed a passion for making quality wines with sound knowledge and business principles. The result is a successful local business with a clear focus, proven track record and a bright future. After a long search for a suitable property Loretta and Shane purchased their block on Larcombes Road, Modewarre in 1999. Right from the start they demonstrated their approach of using the best available knowledge to inform their business decisions. In choosing their Modewarre property they were very careful in identifying good aspect, soils and suitability for irrigation. Proximity to Geelong and access to labour and expertise was also important. The result is a site that produces high quality, intensely flavoured wines. Their success is demonstrated through a raft of wine show prizes over the years. Most recently these have included best wine in show at 2013 Geelong Wine Show for their Pinot Noir, Best Shiraz and Best Pinot Noir in the 2013 Australian Cool Climate Wine Show, and a Silver Medal for the Pinot Gris at the 2013 Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Throughout the development of Brown Magpie Wines, Loretta and Shane have actively built knowledge based on their strengths. Loretta studied for qualifications in viticulture and wine making and took the lead in managing the property. Shane’s focus was ensuring a viable business model utilising his corporate and accounting
Transcript
Note from the Forum Executive June 2014 There has been a lot happening for agribusinesses in the G21 region. This partly reflects an increasting awareness that the agribusiness sector offers many opportunities for growth.
Some of the recent opportunities in this regard include the annocuncement that Accensi is establishing a manufacturing centre at Lara with support from the Geelong Region Innovation Investment Fund (GRIiF), Great Southern Waters abolone farm also received support from the GRIIF, establishment of the Covenant College Trade Skills Centre for agriculture, a successful Australian Manufatuirng and Farming Program Geelong is Strong day, a tour of local innovative
agribusinesses with visiting US expert in rural enterpreneurship Tom Lyons, and an Australia China Business Council initaitive to develop collaborative groups to expand business opportunites with China. These are just a small sample of activities supporting the agribusinss sector in our region.
The G21 Agribusiness forum aims to keep you informed of such activities. As part of this we continue to highlight innovative local agribusinesses through our innovation hotspot profiles – this month featuring Brown Magpie Wines. Please let us know if you have any feedback.
INNOVATION HOTSPOT PROFILE
Brown Magpie Wines Adapting knowledge to produce quality products Talking to Loretta and Shane Breheny, the owners of Brown Magpie Wines, you come away with the impression that they have harnessed a passion for making quality wines with sound knowledge and business principles. The result is a successful local business with a clear focus, proven track record and a bright future.
After a long search for a suitable property Loretta and Shane purchased their block on Larcombes Road, Modewarre in 1999. Right from the start they demonstrated their approach of using the best available knowledge to inform their business decisions. In choosing their Modewarre property they were very
careful in identifying good aspect, soils and suitability for irrigation. Proximity to Geelong and access to labour and expertise was also important. The result is a site that produces high quality, intensely flavoured wines.
Their success is demonstrated through a raft of wine show prizes over the years. Most recently these have included best wine in show at 2013 Geelong Wine Show for their Pinot Noir, Best Shiraz and Best Pinot Noir in the 2013 Australian Cool Climate Wine Show, and a Silver Medal for the Pinot Gris at the 2013 Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
Throughout the development of Brown Magpie Wines, Loretta and Shane have actively built knowledge based on their strengths. Loretta studied for qualifications in viticulture and wine making and took the lead in managing the property. Shane’s focus was ensuring a viable business model utilising his corporate and accounting
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background. They have also adapted to changing circumstances and in recent times their roles have swapped with Loretta running the business and Shane taking over property management activities. Seeking assistance from knowledge experts to assist where appropriate has also characterised their approach e.g. local consultants assisted in advising on varieties, trellising system and the irrigation system.
A clear business model summed up as: “premium grapes, estate produced wine and sale to local/premium markets” underlies all of their activities and provides an alignment of approaches that is fundamental to success. For instance, producing quality wines translates to detailed attention to viticulture. This means things like regular leaf testing to
monitor minerals in the soil as well as monitoring root depth and water level so that management practices can be adapted accordingly.
The major drought from 2005 presented a challenge and they had to buy water in 2009. As a result they studied options for better use of water and in particular how to reduce evaporation. This led to a deepening of the main dam to increase capacity by 30% and the use of silicon treatment in the water.
Loretta and Shane see ongoing adaptation as important to maintaining and improving their operations. For instance, Shane is keen to do more composting using vine and winery waste to reduce weeds and improve soil structure as well as reduce spraying -‐ all focused on making the best quality wine they can.
The business model is reflected in marketing practices, with the
emphasis being on estate grown and produced wine for high value markets. A mix of channels reflects this and includes cellar door, online, agents and direct distribution to local bottle shops and restaurants.
A local focus is also reflected in partnerships that have directly benefited the business. For instance, they actively participate in the Otway Harvest Trail and the Geelong Wine Association. The local community is very supportive and Loretta and Shane have benefitted from support and advice from a range of local farmers and other wineries in the region. They also provide access to their wine laboratory for other wineries in the region.
The history of development and investment in Brown Magpie Wines provides an outstanding example of how building and adapting knowledge combined with a clear business model directs consistency of effort to produce a successful business.
Brown Magpie Wines website: www.brownmagpiewines.com
This innovation hotspot is an initiative of the G21 Agribusiness Forum -‐ to illustrate the success of innovative agribusinesses active across the region. See: www.g21agforum.com.au
Dates for the Diary Food Innovation Australia Information Sessions Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL) is running a number of FREE two-‐hour sessions across Australia. FIAL an industry-‐led, government funded initiative to accelerate commercially driven collaboration and innovation in the Australian food industry. The sessions will share insights from industry leaders and market opportunities, including FIAL’s strategy for growth and programs that will be of direct benefit to the agribusiness sector.
Sessions in Melbourne are on 21 and 22 July and Warrnambool on 24 July. You can register via http://www.fial.com.au
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VFF Conference The 2014 Victorian Agriculture Conference and Expo will be held on 12 and 13 June at the Melbourne Showgrounds Expo Hall. It incorporates the VFF Livestock and Horticulture conferences as well as a small and lifestyle farming expo. More information is available at: http://www.vff.org.au
Geelong Jobs Fair The Geelong Jobs Fair will be held at the Deakin Waterfront Campus on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June. The fair provides local employers the opportunity to promote existing or upcoming job opportunities and to educate the community on the range of career pathways within their business. It will also allow employment, education and training service providers to showcase what they have on offer for job seekers.
A one-‐stop-‐shop where people looking for a job, career change or career pathway can access all the information they need in the one spot! For further information contact Chris Silvestroni p: 03 5272 4884 or email [email protected]
Extravaganza Geelong Extravaganza Geelong is on Sunday 13 July at the Deakin Waterfront. It brings the regions’ winemakers, producers, brewers, chefs and food educators together in one venue to celebrate Geelong’s provenance. It includes produce from the Bellarine, along the Great Ocean Road, the rainforests of the Otways, majestic valleys of the Golden Plains and producers from the Central Geelong district. Visitors will enjoy regionally produced beer, wine, cider, breads, fresh produce, cheese and more with producers onsite to talk, sample and sell their wares. More information at: http://www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au/extravaganza-‐geelong
Victorian Agribusiness Summit The Victorian Agribusiness Council’s summit will be held in Bendigo in August 2014. The summit will explore the latest in Australian agribusiness trends for small and medium businesses. Further information is available at: http://victorianagribusiness.com.au
Regional news and opportunities Covenant College Agriculture Trade Skills Centre – looking for help Covenant College will be opening its Trade Skills Centre in 2015. The College has secured funding ($1.5 million) from the federal government to secure 8 acres of land and build a ‘Farmhouse’ on site. The College will offer: Certificate II in Agriculture, Certificate II in Horticulture and Certificate II in Conservation/Land Management to students throughout the Geelong region. The College hopes to build engaging and industry informed courses that will spark interest in the students and result in pathways through further education and employment.
As part of the courses the College will be offering the students opportunities to learn in ‘structured workplaces’ within the Geelong region. These are workplaces that provide students the chance to learn the ‘hands on’ skills required out there in industry. If you are involved within the Agriculture, Horticulture or Land/Management area (be that business, hobby farm or other), there are two things you can help the College with!
• They need expert trainers (within Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation /Land Management) who could help them to deliver training within their area of expertise.
• They need ‘structured workplaces’.
Even if you yourself are not able to help directly but know of people who may be able to please contact: Justin Boseley-‐ Covenant College Trade Skills Centre Manager p: 0401 181 896 e: [email protected]
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Geelong Careers App – an employment resource The Geelong region Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) have launched an app to assist in finding jobs and learning about career pathways in the Geelong region. It focuses on identifying opportunities in growing sectors in the region – or “trending career sectors”. It provides a live feed of Geelong region jobs and spells out pathways for finding jobs in these sectors. Food and Fibre is one of 8 trending sectors in the region.
Have a look at: http://www.geelongcareers.org.au for more details. Or you can also download the app for your mobile device.
Agribusinesses with an interest in recruiting people can post jobs for free or if you are interested in linking with those people who are looking for agribusiness careers at all levels please contact the Geelong Region LLEN p: 03 5244 7379 e: [email protected] w: http://grllen.com.au. There are also sponsorship opportunities available.
Geelong Food Map Project A group of participants in the Leaders for Geelong program conducted by the Committee for Geelong are developing a food map to showcase quality food and fibre producers in the Geelong region. The project plans to deliver a web based interactive map with potential to extend to a mobile app. The group is looking to engage with as many businesses as possible to include in the map and as part of this will be at Extravaganza Geelong. If you are interested please contact Frances Quirk e: [email protected]
Geelong Food Hub The Victorian government has announced $60,000 grant from its Regional Growth Fund to investigate the economic benefit and commercial feasibility of an urban food hub for the City of Geelong. The project is a collaboration between Deakin University, the City of Greater Geelong and local firm Innate Ecology. Deakin University and The City of Geelong will each also contribute $24,000.
The project will identify and map local food producers and processors and opportunities in emerging food and agriculture. The first stage will document the food cycle across the region, including food production, distribution, waste and the commercial feasibility of operating an urban food hub to assist with Geelong’s needs to 2030 and beyond. The study is expected to be completed in September 2014.
Accensi investing in Geelong Global agricultural chemical company Accensi has announced that it will be building a new agricultural chemical manufacturing plant in Lara, as part of the Geelong Ringroad Employment Precinct. It is expected the plant will be completed by November this year. In announcing the development Russell Walker, Executive Director of Enterprise Geelong Opportunities noted that at full operating capacity the company would directly employ 45 full-‐time staff. He also said that there would be another 33 full-‐time jobs created in flow-‐on sectors and many more again through the building process.
The new plant involves a $20 million capital investment and Accensi will receive a $1.6 million grant through the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund (GRIIF).
Great Southern Waters Great Southern Waters, who produce abalone at their Indented Head operation have received funding from the GRIIF to support expansion of their processing facilities, increasing production capabilities and allowing diversification into high value-‐add specialty products. It is expected that this development will create 15 new jobs as part of a $1million plus investment.
