Gippsland Food & Agribusiness

Gippsland Food & Agribusiness

Gippsland is well suited to agribusiness and the region is fortunate to have a combination of stable climate, strong rainfall patterns, arable soils and close proximity to processing, transport and markets, making it a premium investment destination.

Infrastructure like the Macalister Irrigation District covers 53,000 hectares and distributes water to irrigators through a gravity fed system of channels and pipes.

With a $7 billion net worth, the region is renowned for its high-end agricultural products, grown on some of Australia’s best-quality agricultural land. These natural advantages make it a favoured investment region for successful enterprises. The reputation of Gippsland’s food and fibre production is grounded in good stewardship of resources.

Gippsland has over 9,000 food and fibre businesses and employs 16% of the workforce in the region, with about three quarters of the workers engaged on the farm and roughly 25% in value-added production. Gippsland is a dairy power house producing 22% of Australia’s dairy including milk, milk powder, butter, cheese, yogurt and other value-added products.

The region also produces 25% of the beef in Victoria (much of it for export), wool and prime lamb as well as 27% of Victoria’s vegetables. Further, Gippsland houses the largest pulp and paper mill in Australia and produces 23% of Victoria’s timber. A strong trend towards the organic, viticulture and aquaculture sector has been growing with new businesses emerging.

Lakes Entrance is the home of one of Australia's largest fishing fleets, while Mallacoota is the base of a significant abalone industry.