FIAL Main - Technical Insights , Industry ReportFIAL Main - Technical Insights , Industry Reporthttps://www.fial.com.au/blogs/Industry-ReportWed, 09 Jul 2025 19:31:12 +1000http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Social Glue]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/social-glueSocial glue is the invisible threads or soft infrastructure that create community-driven interconnections between people within a region, to share tacit knowledge and develop deep personal linkages to build foundations for regional development and economic growth.]]>

How to create social glue: a good practice guide

In developing clusters or applying circular economy principles to your region, there are six dimensions to improve your strategic planning process and create social glue.

 

By social glue we mean the invisible threads and soft infrastructure that create community- driven interconnections between people within a region; to share tacit knowledge and develop deep personal linkages to build foundations for regional development and economic growth.

 

In How to create social glue: a good practice guide, we explore best practice across the literature and our own experiences with clusters here in Australia. 

Read the guide here
]]>Fri, 03 Dec 2021 14:14:42 +1100<![CDATA[From Expedience to Innovation]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/from-expedience-to-innovation‘From Expedience to Innovation’ explores how people learn (heuristics) and the operating processes we need to embrace for complexity to work for us . The report also looks at how we can supercharge the food and agribusiness sector in order to enhance innovative thinking.]]>

From Expedience to Innovation

Every year is unprecedented. Some are more unprecedented than others. 2020 will likely go down in Australian history as one of the most challenging on record. COVID-19 pushed the world off the edge of a cliff and, right now, we’re all busy inventing parachutes. In readiness – hopefully – for a New World that is waiting to emerge. 


‘From Expedience to Innovation’, by Dr Darrell Mann and Dr Mirjana Prica, explores how people learn (heuristics) and the operating processes we need to embrace for complexity to work for us . The report also looks at how we can supercharge the food and agribusiness sector in order to enhance innovative thinking.

Read the report here
]]>Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:07:00 +1100<![CDATA[The A$200 billion opportunity in 2030 for the Australian food and agribusiness sector]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/capturing-the-prizeFrom droughts and bushfires to a pandemic, Australia’s food and agribusiness industry (Industry) has navigated major disruptions in recent years. Thes ]]>

Capturing the Prize

From droughts and bushfires to a pandemic, Australia’s food and agribusiness industry (Industry) has navigated major disruptions in recent years. These events aside, the Industry has an immense opportunity before it to deliver greater value for the Australian economy. We must look to invest and innovate to ensure our ongoing resilience and prosperity – 'business as usual' (BAU) will not suffice.

 

In this context, The Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre (FIAL) commissioned a report Capturing the Prize that identifies 19 Growth Opportunities with the potential to grow the Industry’s annual value-addition capability from its current $61 billion per annum to over $200 billion per annum by 2030. The Growth Opportunities identified in Capturing the Prize are supported by 10 Future Trends impacting food production and consumption in Australia and its key export markets, and have the potential to boost the Industry’s competitiveness, stimulate employment and economic significance.

 

These Growth Opportunities are underpinned by rapidly emerging technologies,  which transform how food is produced, how it is distributed and tracked in the supply chain, shifting consumer preferences, and how it finally reaches our plates. Capturing the Prize has identified that this potential transformation of the Industry could create an additional 300,000 jobs by 2030. View the full report below.

View Full Report
]]>Mon, 02 Nov 2020 17:24:32 +1100<![CDATA[FIAL European Cluster Visit 2016]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/european-cluster-visitWhilst in Europe in 2016, FIAL took the opportunity to meet with different cluster leaders, academic experts and government policy makers to learn what principles should be followed to encourage the formation of successful clusters in Australia.]]>
Europe has a proven track record in the development of clusters and the resulting economic benefits it has brought to the regions in which they operate. Whilst in Europe, FIAL took the opportunity to meet with different cluster leaders, academic experts and government policy makers to learn what principles should be followed to encourage the formation of successful clusters in Australia. 
View Full Report
]]>Sun, 01 Nov 2020 14:20:00 +1100<![CDATA[CSIRO Futures Roadmap for Growth]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/csiro-futures-roadmap-for-growthFuture growth of the sector cannot be sustained by productivity improvements alone. CSIRO Futures worked with FIAL and other industry and researchers to identify major growth opportunities and what the food and agribusiness sector needs to do to achieve them.]]>

Future growth of the sector cannot be sustained by productivity improvements alone. CSIRO Futures worked with FIAL and other industry and researchers to identify major growth opportunities and what the food and agribusiness sector needs to do to achieve them.


A changing global landscape

Food and agribusiness markets are evolving rapidly. A rising global demand for food must be met despite harsher and less predictable farming conditions; supply chains are more globally connected than ever before despite increasing geopolitical instability; and technology advances are disrupting every element of the value chain.

Consumers are evolving too, demanding: convenience for both in- and out-of-home consumption; a broader range of flavours and food based experiences; customised offerings; more information about how and where their purchase originated; and products that improve mental and physical wellbeing.


A vision for Australian manufacturing

Over the next 20 years, Australia’s F&A sector has the potential to strengthen its position as a small but significant exporter of sustainable, authentic, healthy, high quality and consistent products. Underpinning this vision will be local businesses who embrace the existing volatility and possess the agility to continually and proactively seek opportunities to create new markets.


Enabling the vision

Enhancing the proportion of on-shore value-adding will be key, whether it be through the creation of unique products for niche markets or through developing varieties of commoditised goods with unmatched quality attributes and competitive production costs.

Sustained growth in the sector will require proactive investment and translation of enabling science and technology, involving transdisciplinary teams and transpartisan relationships. Five key growth enablers arose from industry consultation and are discussed in the Roadmap:

  • Traceability and provenance
  • Food safety and biosecurity
  • Market intelligence and access
  • Collaboration and knowledge sharing
  • Skills
See Report
]]>Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:24:46 +1100<![CDATA[Size of the Prize: An Overview of 16 Opportunities for Australian Food & Agribusinesses]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/size-of-the-prize-16-global-oppsAn Overview of 16 Opportunities for Australian Food & Agribusinesses. The food and agribusiness sector is faced with a number of challenges and opportunities related to demand, supply, innovation, and regulation that will shape the evolution of the sector over the next 5-10 years]]>

The Food and Agribusiness sector is faced with a number of challenges and opportunities related to demand, supply, innovation, and regulation that will shape the evolution of the sector over the next 5-10 years.


The aim of this research is to serve as an input into the broader analytical exercise of developing the specific areas of competitive advantage for Australian firms and the strategy for capturing identified opportunities.


See Report
]]>Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:17:22 +1100<![CDATA[Protein Market: Size of the prize analysis for Australia]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/protein-market-size-of-the-prize-analysis-for-australiaMany consumers are increasingly basing their food purchasing decisions on the nutritional value of the products, particularly around the protein content. Food businesses must be kept up-to-date with the latest trends in health and nutrition.]]>

Many consumers are increasingly basing their food purchasing decisions on the nutritional value of the products, particularly around the protein content. Food businesses must be kept up-to-date with the latest trends in health and nutrition.


See Report
]]>Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:13:08 +1100<![CDATA[Strategic Clusters for Sustainable Growth]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/Strategic-Clusters-for-Sustainable-GrowthThe TCI Network brings together organisations and practitioners to collectively advance the practice of competitiveness, innovation, and cluster development.]]>
The TCI Network brings together organisations and practitioners to collectively advance the practice of competitiveness, innovation, and cluster development.

October saw hundreds of delegates from across the world head to Antwerp for this year’s TCI Network Global Conference. FIAL’s Managing Director, Dr. Mirjana Prica, and General Manager of Innovation, Dr. Barry McGookin were among them.

While over 90 speakers discussed a range of topics, according to Dr. Prica and Dr. McGookin, a number of themes emerged around best practice. These included:


  • Clusters need to know how they can utilise their regional or specialist capability, and why. This cluster value proposition is valuable for decision making, interaction between cluster members, and providing a clear proposal to potential commercial opportunities for ongoing cluster viability and success.
  • The triple helix approach as a key factor for building a successful cluster and region’s long-term competitiveness. This partnership between government, industry and research institutions enables the collective action necessary to overcome complex challenges. Without the participation of government, research, industry, business and community actors, there is less economic and social benefit.
  • Clusters appear to work best when their processes and commercial activities are backed by government policy.
  • Clusters are entrepreneurial, heterogeneous, focused, networked, and supported by investment.
  • Interactions within and across clusters are key to stimulate ideas and build impactful programs.
  • Clusters are increasingly viewed locally and globally as a way of doing business development.
  • Specialisation, rather than generalisation is better for long term cluster success.
  • Clustering in remote and inhospitable regions (almost all of Australia) faces unique challenges – infrastructure in these regions is generally poor so clustering can be used as a tool to attract the required investment; cluster members must work on a common purpose to ensure the long-term viability of the region.

Overall, the importance of collaboration and cooperation was apparent. The willingness to share ideas and collaborate was an inspiring reminder of the power of working together when solving big challenges.


]]>Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:42:14 +1100<![CDATA[Anuga 2019 Report]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/Anuga-2019-ReportAnuga is the world’s largest food and beverage trade fair. With 2019 being the 100th anniversary, the focus was on current trends, innovations and visionary concepts.]]>

The trade exhibition was the biggest yet, with 7,500 exhibitors from 106 countries. What was apparent from the vast array of products on display is that Australia is as good, if not ahead of the curve, when it comes to innovation.

View Full Report
]]>Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:37:41 +1100<![CDATA[Markets in Profile: India and Sri Lanka]]>https://www.fial.com.au/blogs/post/Markets-in-Profile-India-and-Sri-LankaDr Michele Allan, Food Innovation Australia Limited’s (FIAL) Chair, joined Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, on a recent trip to India and Sri Lanka.]]>

Dr Michele Allan, Food Innovation Australia Limited’s (FIAL) Chair, joined Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, on a recent trip to India and Sri Lanka.

They went to meet retailers, the Sri Lankan Ambassador, and representatives from food standards. They returned with a wealth of valuable insights, of which are in the following report.

View Full Report
]]>Mon, 05 Oct 2020 21:58:28 +1100