BLOGS WEBSITE

Face-to-face with Sustainable Value Chains

The group comprising Prof. Monika Hartmann and Dr. Johannes Simons from University of Bonn, Mr Tom Cosentino, delegates from Aceh and GFAR hosts Dr. Adam Loch and Mr. Rohan Yargop.

The group comprising Prof. Monika Hartmann and Dr. Johannes Simons from University of Bonn, Mr Tom Cosentino, delegates from Aceh and GFAR hosts Dr. Adam Loch and Mr. Rohan Yargop.

Ensuring value chains are sustainable in the long term is an important aspect of modern agribusiness management. Along with ever changing market dynamics to the challenges posed by climate change issues, modern agribusinesses have a lot to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

The Centre for Global Food and Resources (GFAR) hosted academics from University of Bonn, University of New England and Syiah Kuala University. Mr Rohan Yargop and Dr Adam Loch from GFAR and Dr Barry Elsey from Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC) welcomed the delegation to the University and associated field trip.

Prof. Monika Hartmann, Dr. Johannes Simons and Tom Cosentino (left to right) at Karen Holder’s Blue Swimmer Crab processing facility in Outer Harbour

Prof. Monika Hartmann, Dr. Johannes Simons and Tom Cosentino (left to right) at Karen Holder’s Blue Swimmer Crab processing facility in Outer Harbour

The group first visited a fishery business in Outer Harbour run by Dennis Holder and Karen Holder. The Holder’s own a state of the art sustainable fishing boat that is battery-powered and catches around 800 kg of blue swimmer crab from the Spencer Gulf. The catch is transported to major markets in Australia with the majority of it sold in the Sydney Fish Markets directly to consumers and high-end restaurants.

Karen spoke about some of the challenges she has faced in her business. These include dealing with licensing and quotas in the fishery sector, being innovative in a competitive industry, dealing with recreational anglers, challenges of sudden depletion of stocks in 2008. Dennis Holder has been a recipient of the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship.

Before leaving, the group watched a live demonstration of extracting crabmeat, which they then got to taste with a local olive loaf and some crackers.

Karen Holder demonstrating how to measure the size of a crab at her facility in Outer Harbour

Karen Holder demonstrating how to measure the size of a crab at her facility in Outer Harbour

The group’s next stop was Mount Barker where they visited the facility of Richard Gunner’s Fine Meats. Richard and Liz Gunner share a close relationship with GFAR and are valued industry partners. Since 2001, Richard Gunner’s Fine Meats has carved a niche in the meat processing industry in South Australia and interstate markets.

The group was greeted by Liz and Richard who guided the delegates through the boning room, the cold room, the small goods section, the dry aging section explaining each process in detail and answering the many questions the group had.

The business model of Richard Gunner’s Fine Meats is unique in the sense that through their seven fully owned and operated retail shops they are directly connected to the consumer while also servicing the back-end of the hospitality industry by wholesale supply of meat and meat products to more than 300 restaurants in South Australia and New South Wales.

The group with Elizabeth Gunner (Centre) at Richard Gunner’s Fine Meats in Mount Barker

The group with Elizabeth Gunner (Centre) at Richard Gunner’s Fine Meats in Mount Barker

Richard Gunner explaining how his value chain operates from paddock to plate at his meat processing facility in Mount Barker

Richard Gunner explaining how his value chain operates from paddock to plate at his meat processing facility in Mount Barker

The group returned to Adelaide after lunch to meet with Annabel Mugford from the Barossa Grape and Wine Association. Annabel engaged in an informal discussion around the wine industry in South Australia with a special focus on Barossa.

Annabel spoke about her role in the Barossa Grape and Wine Association where she aims to promote Barossa not only as a premium wine making destination but also a premium food and tourist destination in Australia and abroad.

One of the delegates from Aceh presenting Annabel Mugford with Acehnese Coffee after her talk about the Barossa Grape and Wine Association

One of the delegates from Aceh presenting Annabel Mugford with Acehnese Coffee after her talk about the Barossa Grape and Wine Association

All in all, it was a great day for all the participants in this field trip. GFAR is proud to host academics and experts from the world over to showcase some of the unique businesses with long term sustainable business models that operate out of South Australia.

Blog prepared by GFAR Resarch Associate, Rohan Yargop.

This entry was posted in Research, Trip, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.
 

Comments are closed.