International experts

Andrew Fearne

Professor Andrew Fearne worked in South Australia as part of the 2008 Adelaide Thinker in Residence program (external site).  His residency in South Australia has promoted value chain thinking and behaviour with appreciation of issues including environmental sustainability, economic viability, population health and social inclusivity.

Professor Fearne's work with South Australia's food and wine industries is detailed in a short video (WMV 3.4MB) or view the transcript.

The Vine to Dine research project was a major outcome of Andrew's residency.

An article in the Agribusiness Australia Magazine (page 15) (external site) is a good reflection on Fearne's journey as a Thinker in Residence and on the challenge for Australian food and wine businesses.

Recommendations

Professor Andrew Fearne presented his final report “Sustainable Food and Wine Value Chains (pdf. 2.1 MB)” to the South Australian Government in September 2009. His report was the subject of a recent story featured on the ABC Landline program.

Professor Fearne’s five recommendations highlighted the enormous potential that exists for South Australia’s food and wine sectors, and the need to embrace improvement and innovation to ensure we remain globally competitive.
 
PIRSA coordinated a series of roundtable meetings to discuss each of the five recommendations.  Representatives were invited to participate from industry and relevant Government agencies to understand the basis of the Professor’s recommendations, explore the current programs and initiatives already occurring in these areas and consider ways in which the recommendations can be acted on. 

There was unanimous support for the continuation of discussion on each of the recommendations, with an appropriate coordinator nominated at each of the roundtables to take each of the recommendations forward. 

Prof. Andrew Fearne’s final recommendations are as follows:

1. Global Thought Leadership Program in Value Chain Management.

    
   The first recommendation is to create a Global Thought Leadership Program in value chain management.  This recommendation reflects on Professor Fearne’s observation that industry leaders and senior managers in government would benefit from exposure to international experiential learning on value-chain principles.
   
   For further information about this recommendation, please contact:
   
   Andrew Curtis, PIRSA
   Email: andrew.curtis@sa.gov.au
   

2. Integrated Market Intelligence and Consumer Insight Service

    
   The second recommendation is to create an integrated market intelligence and consumer insight service, to address the perceived lack of consumer insight. 
   
   For further information about this recommendation, please contact:
   
   Justin Ross, PIRSA
   Email: justin.ross@sa.gov.au
   

3. Cross-agency food policy to support the implementation of a more holistic State Food Plan
   

    
   The third recommendation is the development of a holistic food policy, to support the implementation of an SA Food Plan which interacts with other plans (trade and development, health, education, workforce development, sustainability and climate change) and will facilitate the development of cross-agency programs and more effective engagement with industry.
   
   For further information about this recommendation, please contact:
   
   Vicki Mavrakis, PIRSA
   Email: vicki.mavrakis@sa.gov.au
   

4. Root-and-branch review of the current provision in education and training (primary, secondary, tertiary, higher and ‘executive’) available to the South Australian food and wine industries.
   

    
   The fourth recommendation is for a root-and-branch review of the current education and training provision for the South Australian food and wine industries. Pathways through the education and training system are complex.  It was observed that curricula do not always adequately reflect industry training needs and there are deficiencies in critical areas. In addition the methods of delivery are not as flexible as they need to be to attract more young people into the food and wine industries.  An ageing workforce and low levels of retention in the industry are major concerns to be addressed.
   
   For further information about this recommendation, please contact:
   
   Andrew Curtis, PIRSA
   Email: andrew.curtis@sa.gov.au
   

5. Strengthen the role of regional stakeholder groups in building innovative communities and securing greater engagement from young people in the development of sustainable food and wine value chains
   

    
   The fifth and final recommendation is the creation of regional co-innovation clusters. The vision is to create virtual networks that are rooted in the regions but extend globally and target young people, on whom the future depends but who are currently excluded from the sustainability debate. These clusters would act as incubators for ideas, and provide pathways for young people to gain experience in business and become more pro-actively involved in community development.
   
   For further information about this recommendation, please contact:
   
   Anne Moroney, Barossa Light Development Board
   Email: anne.moroney@bld.org.au
   

Research papers

Food chain excellence: the lessons from other industries (.pdf 274KB)

Prepared by Michael O'Keeffe for Victorian Department of Primary Industries, June 2005

Food value chains: opportunity and performance (.pdf 74KB)

Prepared by Michael O'Keeffe and Professor Andrew Fearne, May 2009

Value chain innovation research - processed vegetable industry (.pdf 153KB)

Professor Andrew Fearne, Associate Professor Ray Collins, Professor Rob Clark, Ben Dent, Laurie Bonney, April 2008

From serendipity to sustainable competitive advantage: insights from Houston’s Farm and their journey of co-innovation (.pdf 128KB)

Laurie Bonney, Rob Clark, Associate Professor Ray Collins and Professor Andrew Fearne, 2007

The Fearne Report: Food and Wine Value Chains - Opportunity or Imperative for Australian Agrifood and Wine (.pdf 361kb)

Anabel Mugford and Glenn Ronan, 2010 

Additional research papers can be found on the Food Climate Research Network website.