Another bumper FANMail – with lots of great resources and opportunities detailed below.
Your feedback is important – so please spare 5 minutes to complete our annual member survey. Your feedback helps us make your experience even more FANtastic! We look forward to see you at our upcoming events. Mark your calendars and get ready for some unforgettable experiences.
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And here’s a personal call for support…
More than 122,500 people will be homeless across Australia tonight. I’m joining the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society. Support my quest to break the cycle of homelessness by donating here: Nicole McNaughton’s Profile. Every donation makes a difference.
Thank you!
Nicole McNaughton
FAN CEO
We have some changes COMING SOON for our FANtastic members.
Details coming our via special comms
and make sure your signed up to our social channels.
FAN Events
Are you new to FAN? Come along to our new member coffee connections and meet fellow new members, catch up with the FAN team and enjoy a delicious cup of Montville Coffee. This catch up is for newly joined FAN members (from Feb 2024 on). Ticket cost includes morning tea.
Join us for the “Seed to Sprout” one-day workshop on Tuesday, 17th September an essential event for food entrepreneurs aiming to thrive in the industry. Held at UniSC, this workshop is divided into two insightful sessions.
Grow National is supported by funding from the Advance Queensland Accelerating Female Founders Program and Turbine. Grow National is also supported by SRJ Walker Wayland, Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council, Noosa Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council.
Sunshine Pantry
Join Us as an Exhibitor at the Premier Food Showcase on the Sunshine Coast!
This year, the Food and Agribusiness Network in collaboration with Visit Sunshine Coast invites you to participate in the celebrated Queensland’s Sunshine Pantry. This prestigious event will be held at the Station SC, offering a day brimming with the rich tastes, innovative creations, and communal spirit of our beloved region. More info here.
Upcoming Grants
Business Basic Grant Program (Round 5 “Resilience”)
Provides support to businesses to increase core skills and adopt best practices. This round focuses on fostering resilience, funding business continuity, security planning, and sustainability. $5,000. No co-contribution requirement. Closes 11 June 2024.
Showcase your innovations in the 2024 InnovationAus Awards for Excellence! Enter the Food and AgriTech category, covering high-tech sensors, farm robotics, and plant-based meats. Enjoy a 50% discount on multiple entries across categories. Entries close midnight, Friday, 21 June 2024. Don’t miss this chance to highlight your cutting-edge solutions!
Advance Queensland – Regional Futures: Collaborative Projects This program accelerates regional economic diversification and supports an inclusive, thriving innovation ecosystem in Queensland. Part of the $5 million Regional Futures initiative. Up to $200,000 matched funding. Closes 27 June 2024.
National Agriculture Traceability Grants Program – Livestock and Animal Traceability Development, Implementation, and Improvement Grant Round This program supports developing, implementing, and improving traceability systems for the livestock and animal products sector to enhance industry capacity and compliance. $150,000 – $500,000. Closes 1 July 2024.
Future Drought Fund – Drought Resilience Commercialisation Initiative
This program accelerates the availability of drought resilience tools for Australian farmers. Delivered by Beanstalk AgTech’s Drought Venture Studio, it supports researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs in bringing new agtech products to market. Up to $300,000. Closes 12 July 2024.
Accelerator for Enterprising Women – Kickstarter Challenge This program provides female entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their new business idea. Categories: Health, well-being & care economy; Climate change & sustainability; Community impact; Fintech or e-commerce. Accessible Budget: $7,500 – $30,000. Closes 16 August 2024.
National Farmers Federation – AgCAREERSTART Program
This program connects farmers with young Australians for a 10-12 month gap-year in agriculture, providing jobs, training, and development grants. Host-farmers offer paid, full-time employment and share skills and industry insights. Up to $2,000. Opens 22 July, closes 29 September 2024.
Nominations are now open for the 2024 Food Industries Association of Queensland Awards in Manufacturing. Businesses who believe they have made an outstanding contribution to the industry through new products, growth, access to market, new innovations, or impact to local communities are welcome to nominate here. Closes 1 November 2024.
City of Moreton Bay has partnered with Grant Guru to assis community and business groups, along with local businesses, to find grants and funding opportunities. This free Funding Finder allows you to search for available grants to help grow your business or project. Visit the Moreton Bay Funding Finder HERE.
Sunshine Coast Council has partnered with GrantGuru to assist community and business groups, along with local businesses, to find grants and funding opportunities. This free Funding Finder allows you to search for available grants to help grow your business or project. Visit the Sunshine Coast Funding Finder HERE.
Thanks to the Successful Grants team who have provided the above information. Please contact the team if you would like to chat about how they can support you.
Member News
Congratulations to Silver Tongue Foods, who won 11 awards at the 2024 Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards, including two champion titles. Their hand-baked ‘Fleur’ cracker and ‘Spiced Orange’ preserve secured the top honors. Read more here.
Congratulations to Woombye Cheese Company whose washed rind product won second place at the World Cheese Awards in Wisconsin, the “cheese capital of the world.” CEO Beth O’Leary credits the quality of local ingredients and their passionate team. Woombye Cheese uses Maleny milk and handcrafted techniques.
A huge congratulations to the East Forged team for winning the Best Processing Award at the inaugural The Hive Awards—truly well deserved! It was FANtastic to cheer you on. Kudos also to Sam Musson of Zest Element for being a finalist in the Game Changer category. This event, hosted by Food & Drink Business, brilliantly celebrated our industry’s passion, innovation, and dedication!
Member Resources & Opportunities
Sustainable Growth: Unlock your manufacturing potential.
Revolutionise your manufacturing processes! Join AusIndustry’s dynamic workshop to identify energy reduction options, master energy measurement techniques, and lead in sustainability. Learn to minimise energy consumption, optimise performance, reduce waste, and cut costs. Embrace net-zero principles to future-proof operations and unlock new supply chain opportunities. Stay competitive in a net-zero economy for long-term success. Reserve your spot now for a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable future in manufacturing!
Presented by Julien Lacave, Senior Consultant at Pangolin Associates, with over 20 years of experience in business development, consulting, and sustainability services. Pangolin Associates is a climate change consultancy helping organisations address compliance, increase efficiencies, and reduce environmental impacts
Tuesday 25 Jun 2024: 8:30AM – 11:30AM | The J Noosa, 60 Noosa Drive Noosa Heads
Save $5k like Eumundi Markets by using the AI Persona Method, creating 40 hours of marketing material in 40 minutes. Learn to craft AI assistants with ChatGPT at the workshop led by Dr. Karen Sutherland. Monday, 10th June, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Online. Cost: $300 AUD + booking fee. Limited spots available. Register now!
Join the Sunshine Coast Local Workforce Forums to help shape the region’s workforce. The Sunshine Coast Regional Jobs Committee seeks your input on workforce participation, skills development, and business growth. Sessions include data, workshops, and tools to support local businesses. Morning tea provided. Secure your spot via these links Mooloolaba | Caloundra |
Join fellow FAN member, Atturra, for their webinar on improving productivity and employee engagement through a connected workforce.
QAD Redzone is the worlds #1 connected workforce solution for manufacturers. It’s helped companies like Gourmet Garden achieve an average productivity uplift of 29% and reduce staff turnover by an average of 38%. 18th June 2024, 11am-12pm Online – Register here
Exciting news! Mark your calendars for the inaugural Sunshine Coast Buy Local Day on June 22, 2024. Celebrate and support our incredible local businesses, emphasising the importance of buying local. Join us in showcasing and appreciating the contributions of our community business. Find out how to get involved here. Buy Local Day is proudly brought to you by Sunshine Coast Council and Buy Local Sunshine Coast.
Join the FREE Innovative Solutions for a Profitable Business workshop. Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with Cleantech Network. Learn strategies to reduce energy, water, and waste, resulting in cost savings and environmental impact reduction. Develop a Sustainability Action Plan to improve competitiveness and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tuesday, 2 July 2024, 7:00AM – 9:30AM, Alex Surf Club, Alexandra Headland
Providore Park returns to Roma Street Parkland on 13-14 July, 2024. Enjoy gourmet food, drinks, and vibrant surroundings. Free entry with ticketed activations like picnics and masterclasses. Stallholders can join for $500 (ex GST). Enquiries at providorepark.com.au.
FWDFest24 Early Bird Tickets now on sale. FWDFest will be held from 31 July to 2 August at TAFE Mooloolaba Campus for a three-day festival featuring thought leadership, networking, and insights into tech trends. Focus areas include cybersecurity, health tech, climate tech, investment, sustainability, and transformative health solutions. Don’t miss out!
The Court of Master Sommeliers Oceania are holding a 3-day Noosa Introductory Sommelier Certificate program 22-24 September. For further information please visit here or email: info@courtofmastersommeliers.
Farmers2Founders (F2F) has launched a new agtech program pathway with the Queensland Venture Capital Development Fund (VCDF). F2F will support 40 QLD agtech and foodtech start-ups through pre-accelerator and accelerator programs. Early-stage founders and high-potential businesses will receive tailored support, including expert mentorship. Pre Accelerator and Accelerator programs open now for applications
Boost your Noosa business with free access to specialist advisors through the Business Boost Program. Key areas include business planning, HR, digital strategy, and the new sustainability category. Eligible businesses can receive up to 2 hours of personalized support per advisor. Contact Noosa Council’s Economic Development team to get started. Subscribe to Noosa Council’s Business E Newsletter.
Our Supporters
Special thanks to FAN’s Partners and Sponsors who provide significant resources towards the ongoing sustainability of FAN and the growth and resilience of our regions’ food and agribusiness industry.
