The South Australian food industry posted an impressive performance during 2007-2008 – despite the triple whammy of a high Australian dollar, reduced water allocations along the River Murray and ongoing drought.
The South Australian food industry has proven itself resourceful and resilient in the face of adversity – reaching a number of record achievements in the 2007-2008 SA Food ScoreCard report.
Despite being hampered by the cumulative impacts of a high Australian currency, reduced water allocations along the River Murray and successive periods of low rainfall or drought, it came up trumps across all major food performance indicators.
Driven by a solid rebound in the field crop sector, which boosted overseas and interstate commodity exports, the industry was able to return a 39% increase in production growth ($970 million) to reach $3.5 billion – the highest level since ScoreCard records began in 1996-1997.
Finished foods also experienced impressive growth of $355 million, up 9% to reach a record $4.4 billion, while overseas export growth rose 19% (up $319 million) to $2.0 billion.
Gross food revenue grew $1.5 billion (up 15%) to reach a record $11.5 billion, and food employment was up by 10,200 (7.7 %) reaching a record level of 143,400.
Food industry experts have warned that the outlook for the 2008-2009 season however may represent one of the most uncertain periods in recent agrifood history. Low water allocations, dryer than average spring conditions, dramatically reduced commodity prices, sharply fluctuating foreign exchange rates and uncertain world demand flowing from
the global financial crisis are all expected to play a role in the next ScoreCard result.
The SA Food Scorecard report initiative has been developed by PIRSA to track the advances in the South Australian resources, agrifood and wine sectors and measure the growth target of the South Australian Food Plan.
The full report is available at www.safoodcentre.com.au/scorecard
Want to know more?
Contact
Rob Esvelt
PIRSA Corporate Strategy
and Policy
p +61 8 8226 0475
e esvelt.rob@saugov.sa.gov.au