Dr Meg Howe awarded Agriculture WA's New Industries Fellowship

21/8/98

Northern Community Landcare Co-ordinator Meg Howe has been awarded Agriculture Western Australia's inaugural New Industries Fellowship to study a major diversification initiative in New Zealand.

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said the national fellowship program would enable Dr Howe to investigate approaches to new industry development in New Zealand which could be applied to WA.

"There are many opportunities for new industries throughout Australia and the key to their commercial success lies in a shared understanding of the processes required for development," Mr House said.

The Minister said Agriculture WA's New Industries Program had taken a lead in Australia by establishing the National New Industries Fellowship.

Mr House said the fellowship provided up to $10,000 towards travel and living expenses for a two-week study anywhere in the world.

It was advertised nationally, attracting considerable interest from throughout Australia.

Mr House said the fellowship would provide a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from experiences in new industries overseas.

Dr Howe saw enterprise diversification and new industry development as the keys to sustainable agriculture and she had promoted the message to the many community groups.

"Dr Howe will use the fellowship opportunity to investigate the Crops for Southland initiative on the South Island of New Zealand," the Minister said.

"The project aims to promote diversification with the introduction of new industries for the Southlands district. At present, less than two per cent of the soils suitable for horticulture in the Southlands are utilised for horticultural crops, and the initiative is encouraging diversification opportunities."

Mr House said the New Zealand project represented a model which could potentially be replicated in Australia.

Dr Howe would also review New Zealand's thriving organic industry during her fellowship study to gain a first-hand perspective of how Australia could utilise its approach to accelerate the development of new industries.

Mr House said Dr Howe would report on her Fellowship study in a keynote address to the first national 'New Rural Industries 1998' conference, to be held in Perth on October 18-21.

Media contact: Julie Cole (08) 9481 2044