STRATEGY
Shaping Tomorrow: Our Roadmap to Success and Sustainability.
DRIVING INNOVATION AND GROWTH: STRATEGIC VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Explore the Northern Adelaide Plains Food Cluster's vision and roadmap for growth and innovation. Discover our strategic initiatives focused on sustainability, community engagement, and industry leadership.
Learn how we plan to achieve our goals, support local farmers, and enhance the region's food production capabilities through collaboration and cutting-edge practices.
Key priorities the Adelaide Plains Food Cluster:
Support a sustainable and capable workforce for our region
Champion sustainability , resilience and growth economies
Showcase and position our region, produce, and people to the world
Ensure application of research and development for an innovative sector
Advocate and support infrastructure needs for food sector growth and sustainability
Key priorities the Adelaide Plains Food Cluster:
Support a sustainable and capable workforce for our region
Champion sustainability , resilience and growth economies
Showcase and position our region, produce, and people to the world
Ensure application of research and development for an innovative sector
Advocate and support infrastructure needs for food sector growth and sustainability
Support a sustainable and capable workforce for our region
Develop a skilled, adaptable workforce in the Northern Adelaide Plains, offering clear pathways, training, and recognition to attract, retain, and grow talent for future industry needs.
Goals
Support the development of workforce priorities across the Northern Adelaide Plains
Build workforce skills and capability to support industry growth and competitiveness.
Strengthen partnerships and secure resources to deliver workforce initiatives.
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Partner with industry to conduct workforce roundtables, research, and stakeholder engagement to identify workforce priorities, gaps, and training pathways.
Develop and maintain a training calendar aligned with identified workforce priorities.
Facilitate and participate in initiatives that promote the region, its workforce opportunities, and career pathways.
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Engage with businesses to understand workforce needs aligned with their growth and development.
Deliver priority training programs, including safety, compliance, and specialised technical skills relevant to the sector.
Facilitate information sessions at key locations, such as the VHC, Gawler, and Lower Light, to build capability in areas including export readiness, technology adoption, and product development.
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Secure funding and partnerships to support workforce development programs, including access to training facilities and delivery spaces.
Develop business cases to support resourcing and program delivery.
Collaborate with education providers, industry, and government to deliver coordinated workforce initiatives aligned with sector priorities.
Initiative
Champion sustainability , resilience and growth economies
Establish the Northern Adelaide Plains Food Region as a globally recognised model of sustainable food production by embedding circular economy principles into a regenerative, resource-efficient regional system.
Improve environmental sustainability and resource efficiency across the region.
Build resilience to climate, biosecurity, and market disruptions
Support economically sustainable and growth-oriented businesses
Goals:
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Partner with industry and government to implement initiatives that reduce waste, improve water efficiency, and optimise resource use.
Deliver programs that support sustainable farming practices, including soil health, water management, and energy efficiency.
Promote circular economy initiatives such as resource sharing, waste reuse, and by-product utilisation.
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Work with industry and government to identify key risks, such as drought, flood, extreme weather, and biosecurity threats, and develop response frameworks.
Position the Virginia Horticulture Centre (VHC) as a coordination hub for industry communication and response during disruption events.
Deliver training to build capability in risk preparedness, business continuity, and biosecurity response.
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Deliver programs that build capability in financial management, business planning, and profitability.
Facilitate collaboration across the supply chain to improve market access and resilience.
Promote opportunities for value-adding, diversification, and new market development.
Initiatives and Actions:
Showcase and position our region, produce, and people to the world
A purposeful regional brand strategy, centred on “Grown on the Adelaide Plains”, leverages our unique local identity to drive economic development, attract investment, and strengthen community prosperity. This strategy aligns stakeholders around shared values and assets, creating a unified narrative that enhances competitiveness and long-term resilience.
Develop and promote a strong regional brand
Strengthen trade relationships and export opportunities
Strengthen regional identity through industry and community engagement
Goals:
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Develop and implement a regional brand strategy, including messaging, identity, and digital presence.
Participate in trade shows, exhibitions, and industry events to showcase regional capability.
Deliver targeted media and digital campaigns to promote the region’s strengths and achievements.
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Host delegations and familiarisation visits with international partners.
Deliver workshops to build export readiness and supply chain capability.
Build and maintain relationships with trade organisations and export networks.
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Support events, farm tours, and industry showcases that connect community and industry.
Promote storytelling that highlights local producers, innovation, and career pathways.
Engage stakeholders as ambassadors to promote a consistent regional narrative.
Initiatives and Actions:
Ensure application of research and development for an innovative sector
Research and Development (R&D) in the food industry delivers a wide range of benefits to farmers, agribusinesses, consumers, and the environment — from boosting productivity and profitability to driving sustainability and long-term resilience. Key benefits include increased productivity and output, greater profitability and economic growth, improved sustainability, enhanced resilience and risk management, technological innovation, and knowledge sharing. These advantages also strengthen food security and improve quality outcomes across the system.
Strengthen collaboration between industry, research, and education
Increase adoption of innovation and technology across the sector
Build data and knowledge capability to support decision-making
Goals:
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Establish partnerships to align research with industry needs.
Facilitate knowledge-sharing forums and industry-led discussions.
Support student placements, internships, and collaborative projects.
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Partner with research organisations and industry to deliver applied research outcomes.
Deliver demonstration projects, trials, and pilot programs.
Support the adoption of AgTech, digital tools, and innovative practices.
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Support the development and use of data tools for production, workforce, and market insights.
Promote benchmarking and data-sharing initiatives.
Build industry capability in data use and digital systems.
Initiatives and Actions:
Advocate and support infrastructure needs for food sector growth and sustainability
Transform the Northern Adelaide Plains into a globally competitive, resilient, and sustainable food production and processing hub by investing in critical infrastructure that supports long-term economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community prosperity. The NAPFC advocates for and addresses infrastructure needs to protect this $500 million food region and support its ongoing economic growth.
Protect agricultural land and support appropriate land use
Strengthen access to water, energy, and essential infrastructure
Improve transport, logistics, and digital connectivity
Goals:
Initiatives and actions:
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Learn from the best practice elsewhere in Australia and overseas.
Advocate for planning frameworks that protect prime agricultural land.
Provide industry input into planning and policy processes.
Promote the economic importance of the region’s food production capacity.
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Advocate for investment in water infrastructure, including access and distribution.
Support initiatives that improve energy reliability and affordability.
Identify and advocate for solutions to infrastructure gaps impacting industry growth.
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Advocate for upgrades to transport and freight networks.
Support improvements to digital connectivity across the region.
Collaborate with industry and government to prioritise infrastructure investment.
Read Our Previous Strategic Plan
WHERE STRATEGY MEETS PASSION
Read the full strategy.