Tasmania's agriculture, food and beverage production has again recorded another exceptional year, with the agri-food gross value increasing by 9 per cent to $3.52 billion.
The resilience of Tasmania's farming sector and ability to adapt has again been highlighted in the Tasmanian Agri-Food ScoreCard 2020-21.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is the strongest supporter of our hard-working farmers and primary producers, and we congratulate them for their innovation, tireless efforts, resilience and commitment to the agriculture industry.
Pleasingly, agricultural production increased by 9 per cent, taking the farm gate value to $2.34 billion in 2020-21. This shows we are on track to reach our ambitious target of growing the Tasmania's farm gate value of agriculture to $10 billion per year by 2050.
Produced annually, the ScoreCard found favourable seasonal conditions during summer 2020-21 and access to irrigation infrastructure and water throughout the warm and dry periods were crucial to the continued strong performance of pasture-based industries.
Dairy was the highest value agricultural category at $490 million.
Notable farm gate value increases include:
- Meat which rose 8 per cent to $665 million;
- Berry production rose 45 per cent to $209 million; and
- Vegetables increased 13 per cent to $337 million.
Tasmania's wine industry continues to go from strength to strength with the overall value of wine grapes up 21 per cent to a farm gate value of $46 million as the vintage increased by 16.9 per cent to 14,478 tonnes.
In addition, our seafood sector again showed sustainable growth, increasing 10 per cent to $1.18 billion. Salmonids remained the highest value food product, increasing 14 per cent to $1.01 billion.
The ScoreCard reflects industry's outstanding achievement and ability to capitalise on Tasmania's advantages in climate, soils, natural resources, biosecurity and water for irrigation.
It is a remarkable achievement for the State's agribusiness sector to grow in 2020–21 as Tasmania continued to be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our Government thanks all Tasmanian farmers, producers, businesses and organisations who have delivered these outstanding agricultural achievements.
To read the 2020-21 Scorecard, visit nre.tas.gov.au/agriculture/facts-figures/tasmanian-agri-food-scorecards
