Spencer Gulf and West Coast prawn fisheries

Conducting a sustainable value chain analysis, primarily focuses on a very specific chain for a particular product line, linking a producer through each step in an existing chain to the final consumer.

The basis of the prawn project is to to see if there is an opportunity to use this approach for the wider industry benefit as opposed to just a particular chain of companies.

The project was instigated by the 14th Adelaide Thinker in Residence, Prof. Andrew Fearne.

The extended approach involves:

  • selecting a suitable industry
  • identifying key stakeholders and conducting interim research to gain an understanding of that industry
  • identifying the best opportunities and target market(s) for the whole industry
  • choosing commercial project partners to participate in a specific VCA
  • conducting the value chain analysis
  • identifying and implementing improvement projects in those chains
  • protecting commercial IP but share the generic benefits of the specific chain improvements with the wider industry.

Industry / Government Partnership

This approach provides a way for private industry and government to work together on projects. It becomes commercially relevant to the companies involved while still providing the wider industry benefit that government and industry associations require. The involvement of the association also ensures the project fits in with the industry wide strategy and dovetails into any other relevant projects being undertaken.

Collaboration not only within the value chain but also between government and industry allows co-investment, leverage of funds and expertise and a reduction of duplication. Government departments and associations can also use the process to prioritise industry issues and opportunities and use this information to better direct research and development funding.

More information

This project is being undertaken by Rural Solutions SA. 

Mr Nathan Kimber
Senior Consultant, Rural Solutions SA
nathan.kimber@sa.gov.au