Dear FAN Members and Supporters,
Its been an action-packed start to Spring with lots of events over the past month, including Member Meet-ups, a Social Media Workshop and Agtech Demo Day.
A highlight was a Member Ideation Session, where a group of members from across the value chain came together to provide ideas and potential solutions to a Gourmet Garden waste challenge. It was an important reminder about the importance of bringing in diverse thinking to solving problems, and we’re grateful to Gourmet Garden for value adding to the session by sharing some of their innovation tools with the group. If you’re interested in the outcomes or hosting a session drop us a line.
We hope to see many of you at next Tuesday’s Insights and Inspiration Event with Barry Irvin AM, Executive Chairman of Bega Cheese talking all things circularity.
Yours in collaboration,
Emma
Table of Contents
FAN Events
In this very special event we’re joined by Barry Irvin AM – Executive Chairman from Bega Cheese who will share why businesses embracing circularity is the way of the future, and his journey leading the Bega Valley Circular Economy initiative.
The ‘Bega Circular Valley 2030’ aims to deliver a transformational high-impact regional development initiative with the pioneering vision to establish Bega Valley Shire as the most circular regional economy in Australia that can be replicated by other regions globally.
The evening will also feature a panel of FAN members
- Matt Jancauskas – Brouhaha Brewery
- Brent Dellar – First Batch Coffee Roasters
- Alison McGruddy – My Berries
Who will share their insights on how they incorporate circularity principles into their business practices.
With thanks to Advance Queensland and Noosa Council for their support of this event.
Register HERE for this special event.
Join us for this special online session discussing issues around Mental Health Awareness in the workplace – as part of Mental Health Month.
Mental Health Month is celebrated every October, encouraging us to think about our mental health and wellbeing.
In this special online session – valued FAN Partner EPIC Assist, discusses issues around Mental Health Awareness in the workplace.
AgTech Uptake Program
Following a great turnout at the Moreton Bay Demo Day – we’re gearing up for our AgTech Demo Day – Noosa Thursday 6 October.
If you’re interested in valuable connections, future collaborations and the opportunity to connect with others in our local agri-community (over local beers!) – join us.
The aim of the day is to connect our local producers and agribusiness community with new-to-market and innovative agritech solutions.
The Demo Day will feature:
• Displays and demos from local and national solution providers Ceres Tag, Yabby Sensors, Envirolyte Asia Pacific, BioScout, The AgTech Store
• Panel and Q&A sessions with special guest speakers
• Beers and Banter Networking session
Available for download from FAN Connect Resources;
Developing a Farm Tech Plan
Online Session
In this special Farm Tech Planning Workshop – supported by AgriFutures Australia Brooke Sauer, from IntellectAg in partnership with Rural Edge presented “Creating a Farm Tech Plan: making your data work for you” online workshop.
RECORDING HERE
AgTech the State of Play
Online Session
Kara Glen Worth from Australian Agritech Association provided an update about the agritech sector and ecosystem, what opportunities lie ahead for producers and what the climate looks like for this important sector – post the recent Federal Election.
RECORDING HERE
Member Opportunities
The Noosa Biosphere Gala returns on Tuesday 1 November for its annual celebration of people & nature in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
This year’s theme, Grow for Noosa supports the growth of a vibrant and sustainable food and agriculture economy in the Noosa region, and will be a celebration of local food producers and local produce. Enjoy a conscious alternative to Melbourne Cup Luncheon featuring produce from across the region curated by View Restaurant Executive Chef Matt Golinski.
Join the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation, an expert local foodie panel featuring our very own FAN CEO Emma Greenhatch, and special guests as we celebrate local producers, local produce and growing Noosa’s food future!
DETAILS HERE.
Tuesday 18 October
ASPIRE Webinar Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay Regional Council together with ASPIRE present an intro webinar is this online marketplace for material resource exchange. It matches waste resources from a business with potential manufacturers, purchasers or recyclers and therefore reduces waste going to landfill. Access to the ASPIRE platform is free for all Moreton Bay businesses with 100 or less employees.
REGISTER HERE
Monday 24 October
EOI Close Landcare Farming Program
The Landcare Farming Program (LFP) is currently seeking EOIS from individuals, groups and organisations who have terrific and innovative stories to tell about managing for healthy landscapes in the agricultural sector. We know great work is generating some compelling results out there and we want to support you share this work with a wider audience.
DETAILS HERE
EOIS Manufacturing Benchmark Program
EOIS are open for the Manufacturing Benchmark Program for Queensland Manufacturers looking to benchmark their business’s resource use, waste and carbon emissions and develop a detailed action plan to reduce costs and their environmental footprint on their journey towards Industry 4.0.
READ MORE HERE
Grants & Support
Farmers2Founders
Australia’s largest Agrifood pathway.
Applications for Accelerator programs now open.
Australian Business Growth Fund
The Australian Business Growth Fund™ (ABGF) was developed with Australian SMEs in mind. Providing a unique alternative to bank lending and private equity funding, we provide the growth capital you need to realise your ambition, without relinquishing control of what you’ve built.
This is a general investment fund that is always open.
Business Investment Fund.
The Business Investment Fund (BIF) has been created to support established small and medium businesses innovate, realise their potential, and promote job creation in Queensland.
This is a general investment fund that is always open.
Member News
Seedlab Program participants
Congrats to FAN Members who have been selected as Round 3 Cultivators in the Seedlab Program
Hum Honey & Ugly Duck Fine Foods
Past FAN member participants have also include Hive & Harvest, I Am Grounded and Bask & Co.
Sunshine Coast Business Awards Finalists
Congrats to our members selected Sunshine Coast Business Awards Finalists.
Beachtree Distilling Co. Sunshine Coast, Creative Tours, Global Boss International, Kook, Maleny Dairies, Mercure Sunshine Coast Kawana Waters, So Soda, The Fermentier, Walker Seafoods Australia, Waste Free Systems, White’s IGA & Yourbrandcrew
We’ll be the loud table cheering you all on!
Moreton Bay’s 50 Most Influential People
Congrats to our Moreton Bay members – recongised in the Courier Mail’s Top 50 Power list.
#11 Jacki Hinchey – REKO (and FAN Moreton Bay!)
#39 Alison McGruddy – My Berries
#43 Rob Comiskey – Comiskey Group
READ MORE HERE
Member Spotlight
Kathryn and Mark Lang
Langs Gourmet
Strawberry jam has a new name and continues to help medical research
As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Or in the case of the last-minute cancellation of the Ekka last year, make tonnes of strawberries destined for the iconic Strawberry Sundaes into yummy strawberry jam!
This is exactly what the Lang family of Lang’s Gourmet did. Utilising the sweetest local strawberries, their now famous strawberry jam was born. It was an instant success with Brisbane locals keen to get their hands on a jar.
Now called ‘That Strawberry Jam’, it has a wonderful, handmade, old fashioned quality. It is not hard to see why, all Lang’s Gourmet products are made using locally sourced Australian ingredients and are proudly 100% gluten free and free of preservatives and artificial colours. They are made in Capalaba by the family owned and run company.
This year, “That Strawberry Jam’ was so successful that they’ve generously donated over $2,400 (supporting 51 hours of medical research) from the proceeds made to continue funding The Common Good medical research !
Story Courtesy of The Common Good – Read the full story here.
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.
