All about What’s Your Challenge?

What’s Your Food or Fibre Challenge, Gippsland? was a program that aimed to turn challenges and ideas into greater opportunities.

The program sought to contribute to the growth, prosperity and sustainability of the region, sparking innovation that not only benefits our communities and businesses but leads the way for the food and fibre industry nationally and globally.

What’s Your Food or Fibre Challenge, Gippsland? was funded by the Gippsland Regional Partnership and developed by Federation University Australia and Food & Fibre Gippsland, with partnership and support provided by Regional Development Victoria, Food Agility CRC, Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL), Latrobe Valley Authority and TAFE Gippsland.

After an extensive selection process that included a bootcamp for the sharing of information and knowledge, plus an official pitch to the program panel, seven food and fibre projects across Gippsland were selected to take part in the inaugural program.

The following organisations and businesses were the successful applicants across the local government areas (LGAs) of Gippsland :

• Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation – feasibility study into commercial product opportunities for native bush foods (East Gippsland LGA)

• Bulmer Farms – research into re-use or recycling options for trickle tape (East Gippsland LGA)

• Kiel Industries - development of a food-grade biodegradable bin liner (Latrobe City LGA)

• Ingram Wild Caught Fisheries – Business and marketing plan for fish sauce made from carp – (Wellington LGA)

• Gurneys Cider – research into an environmentally-friendly pasteurisation process to scale-up and grow their business (South Gippsland LGA)

• South Gippsland Dairy – further market development, clinical trials and research to boost engagement in the human nutrition space (South Gippsland LGA)

• Gippsland Jersey – feasibility study into all-inclusive dairy manufacturing plant to enable supply chain efficiencies and attract a visitor economy (East Gippsland, Baw Baw and Latrobe City LGAs)

All received comprehensive research and innovation support from experts and leaders in academia, business, science and the food and fibre industry, resulting in them being better informed and prepared to progress their ideas.

‘What’s your Food or Fibre Challenge, Gippsland?’ was funded by the Victorian Government’s Gippsland Regional Partnership.

It was delivered by Federation University and Food & Fibre Gippsland with partnership and support provided by Regional Development Victoria, Food Agility CRC, Food Innovation Australia Limited, Latrobe Valley Authority, TAFE Gippsland and the Committee for Gippsland.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROJECTS

Bush food
Organisation: Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC)
This project enabled GLaWAC to carry the Gunaikurnai people’s 60,000-year history of land care and custodianship into the future by producing a feasibility study into commercial product opportunities for native bush foods in the region.

Trickle tape recycling
Organisation: Bulmer Farms
This project involved research into the possible reuse or recycling options for single-use, non-biodegradable trickle tape that is used to maximise water in Bulmer Farms’ intensive vegetable farming operation. The aim was to investigate ways to make their business and local agriculture more sustainable.

Flexible food-grade bin liner
Organisation: Kiel Industries
This project aimed to help Kiel Industries develop a biodegradable food-grade bin liner that is strong enough to transport seafood while having the flexibility to sit within collapsible transport bins. The bin liners will reduce the economic and environmental cost on the return journey from market.

Carp fish sauce
Organisation: Ingram Wild Caught Fisheries
This project helped the development of a business and marketing plan for Ingram Wild Caught Fisheries’ fish sauce made from carp. The sauce has the potential to become the only Australian-made fish sauce, while solving the environmental problem caused by this major pest in Gippsland’s waterways.

Cider pasteurisation
Organisation: Gurneys Cider
This project assisted Gurneys Cider with research into the most efficient and environmentally-friendly pasteurisation process for their business. It will enable them and potentially other small-to-medium cider breweries to scale up and grow their businesses.

Colostrum tablet and powder
Organisation: South Gippsland Dairy
This project sought to undertake further market development of colostrum as a commercial product and to conduct clinical trials and research. It aimed to further South Gippsland Dairy’s engagement in the human nutrition space and to help grow the local colostrum market segment for other dairies.

Dairy factory of the future
Organisation: Gippsland Jersey
This project developed a feasibility study into Gippsland Jersey’s creation of a centrally-located, all-inclusive dairy manufacturing plant that will enable supply chain efficiencies and attract a visitor economy, helping to make Gippsland a world-leading dairy hub.

The Terms, Conditions and Governance Guidelines for the program can be downloaded as a PDF document here.

Partners: