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Owned by Sandra Jefford and Wilco Droppert, Wilandra Farms was recognised in the 2024 Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards for its exemplary sustainable farming practices.

Certified organic since 2020, Wilandra Farms operates on a philosophy of regenerative methods of farming to improve the quality of available natural resources. They utilise energy harvested through wind and solar, and have undertaken extensive plantings of native trees and agroforestry species. Wilandra Farms have shared their sustainability story with us.

Gippsland Research Farm is currently the site of a project which actively aims to build more topsoil, with an outlook on improving adaptability to climate variation. In addition to increasing the soil’s nutrient holding capacity, ‘Growing More Topsoil’ seeks to answer two specific questions:

1. Can we double the water holding capacity of our top soil?

2. Can we extend our top soil from 150mm to 300mm deep?

Funded through the Future Drought Fund and delivered by Gippsland Agricultural Group (GAgG), the initiative has been underway since mid-2023 and is beginning to produce visible results. In October, progress was showcased at this year’s GAgG Spring Field Day.

After winning Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year in May, Mawarra Genetics has been sponsored to attend Northern Europe’s largest agricultural trade fair. Members of the Sykes family are about to embark on an international study tour that will incorporate many promising business engagements across Denmark and neighbouring nations.

A project that seeks to double the water holding capacity of topsoil is one of a number of initiatives that are seeking to enhance the drought preparedness and resilience of Gippsland’s agricultural industries and rural communities.

With support from the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub and the Federal Government's Future Drought Fund, an innovative project is underway which aims to find a forage mix that can grow successfully 365 days of the year.

Funding to extend the Vic Hub - Gippsland Node drought program was recently provided by the Commonwealth’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). We're working closely with Gippsland Agricultural Group and South Gippsland Landcare Network to continue established projects which build drought preparedness in Gippsland.

During an evening of music, great company and fine Gippsland produce, the winners of the 2024 Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards were announced at Maffco Brewery & Distillery.

South Gippsland Landcare Network recently hosted a field day to share information about - and learning from - the highly successful ‘Green Dams’ project in Tarwin Lower.

More than 60 vegetable growers and agronomists attended a drone demonstration night in Middle Tarwin earlier this month. Food & Fibre Gippsland’s VegNET Regional Development Officer Emily Scott coordinated the event in partnership with Schreurs & Sons, Syngenta, and E.E. Muir & Sons.

With just a few days to go until the closing date for entries in this year’s premier industry event, Gippsland agribusinesses are being encouraged to submit an application and be in the running for recognition.

There’s something special happening in the heart of Stratford, a small town right in the heart of Gippsland. Usually found in the eclectic laneways of Melbourne, coffee culture is making a name for itself at the delightful Badger & Hare Café.

Due to successive, disruptive weather events experienced by Gippsland businesses in recent times and their considerable impacts on many within the food and fibre sector, including our valued members and stakeholders, Food & Fibre Gippsland has decided to extend the date for applications for the Gippsland Food and Fibre Awards to Sunday 14th April.

The celebratory evening, at which the awards will be presented, will now take place on Friday the 31st of May.

Recent heavy rainfall in Gippsland has impacted farms, with many producers witnessing riverine flooding on their properties or saturated crops during prolonged and subsequent weather events. Yield losses experienced by baby leaf vegetable growers due to a significant rain event can be severe. A recently-published case study has described how the challenges for growers extend beyond the on-farm outcomes of such destructive weather phenomena, to meeting consumer expectations for ‘perfect’ produce.

Vertical farming is just one of many innovation opportunities being explored as part of the Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy (GS3). Our team has been working closely with the Latrobe Valley Authority to investigate the potential for vertical farming to be established in Gippsland.

With titles like ‘Choice Bro’, ‘Paradisio’ and ‘Woman on Mars’, plus eye-catching packaging to match, it’s evident there’s some serious creative talent behind Good Land Brewing Co.’s craft brew range. We caught up with founder Jimmy Krekelberg to find out what’s behind the positive vibe at this Gippsland destination for appreciators of fine craft beer.

Gippsland Agricultural Group’s soil coring project has been helping farmers to build greater understanding of drought preparedness, by showing them what lies beneath the soil surface and what those soil samples can tell them about preparing for climatically dry conditions.

What better way to fully understand the broad benefits of soil moisture monitoring technology than to hear the pros and cons from agronomists and growers who have been using the probes on local vegetable farms. This was just one of the identified benefits of a soil moisture monitoring field day which took place in November as part of the VegNET Gippsland program.

Now in its final phase, the Green Farm Dams project has seen South Gippsland Landcare Network and Deakin University working closely to monitor the project’s outcomes.

The board of Food & Fibre Gippsland Inc has confirmed Ben Gebert as CEO at its November meeting. Ben had been acting CEO since July when his predecessor Nicola Pero moved to her new role in the New Energy Sector.

An exciting new food venture opened its doors in Maffra this week. The Berry Dairy is a unique ‘pick-your-own’ strawberry farm that boasts a licensed cafe, right in the heart of Gippsland. Open seven days a week, The Berry Dairy is distinguishing their produce with the Gippsland Trusted Provenance brandmark. Read more about this exciting new agritourism business, built around principles of sustainability and biodiversity.

Gippsland has been identified as a key region for growth within the food and fibre sector by The Trade Council of Denmark in Australia. A strategic partnership agreement has now been signed with Food & Fibre Gippsland which will bring broad and diverse benefit, both economically and environmentally.

Delivered by VegNET Gippsland, the Winter Warmers Seminar Series provided three sessions to support professional development within the horticulture industry. Now a case study has been published to share the outcomes of the seminars, which provided techniques to help businesses improve from within.

Many Gippsland businesses employ culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) workers in their harvest, undertaking tasks such as weeding, planting, picking, and packing operations. Supporting CaLD workers to integrate into our communities and feel welcome and safe in Gippsland is crucial not only for the workers, but the growers and wider community as well. A case study is now sharing the outcomes of a project which sought to achieve this, after it wrapped up at the end of September.

Food & Fibre Gippsland’s Jobs Victoria-funded Connect 2 Employment program is to conclude on October 6th, 2023.

In partnership with Gippsland New Energy Conference and Tinamba Hotel, we’ve created a short film that celebrates the gourmet goodness of our region - and the amazing growers and producers who make Gippsland a fine-dining destination.

Made with the freshest ingredients by a passionate team in the heart of Gippsland, Love in a jar preserves have a strong and loyal following among food-buffs and jam connoisseurs. We caught up with the energetic trio to find out what makes the local brand so well-known to audiences across our region.

Food & Fibre Gippsland has been working closely with South Gippsland Landcare Network, who are facilitating the ‘Green Dams’ project at Cape Liptrap. It’s an initiative that’s helping to increase knowledge around water management and maintaining water quality in farm dams, with a strong focus on improving biodiversity and drought-proofing in a temperate environment. Jillian Staton, who is leading the project on her coastal farm, gives us an insight into what drives her interest in this important study.

‘Green drought’ management initiatives that are underway in Gippsland include a trial that seeks to increase topsoil, while another involves studying soil core samples to assist with on-farm decision making and drought preparedness. Read all the latest news about Future Drought Fund projects in Gippsland.

Catch up on all the latest news from the Informed and Supported Workers Program, with useful information and resources for growers and their seasonal workforce.

Food & Fibre Gippsland is committed to supporting our region with sustainable solutions and circular economy principles. Whey side-stream processing is an encouraging opportunity to explore.