Do you operate a food related business in the Gympie region? If so, we want to hear from you as we have just submitted a ClimateSmart business cluster grant application to the Queensland Govt to bring together like-minded businesses who wish to support their local food industry.

Outline:  A grant application has been submitted to the Queensland ClimartSmart business cluster program to create a ‘Food miles’ business cluster in the Gympie region.  The project would draw together 20 businesses within the greater Gympie region in the food industry – primarily cafes, restaurants including some food producers – to commit to an ecoBiz energy efficiency program as well as commit to counting ‘Food Miles’ and promoting the use of local produce.

Food Miles concept: Participants will calculate the distance travelled for the food that is currently used by the cluster participants, by calculating how far it has travelled from its source. This highlights how far supplies have travelled and so contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. By then using local produce i.e. those within 100 miles of where the food is used the group can calculate how many greenhouse gases are saved by using local produce.  

Project objectives: To assist in developing economic sustainability based on local community action and entrepreneurship in the food industry using private sector partnerships and networks, the project will:
¥    Identify opportunities to increase the variety and supply of quality fresh and value added food;
¥    Establish or promote existing local food supply chains that support trading relationships;
¥    Build demand for local food within the region from local residents and visitors;
¥    Facilitate development of authentic local food tourism and AgriTourism enterprises and experiences;
¥    Raise the region’s profile for both regional food and tourism through public relations activities and aligning to existing local branding initiatives.
¥    Partner with and promote related local food production programs i.e. the cluster already in development by the Gympie Regional Council’s economic development unit.
¥    Create the opportunity for financial savings through the monitoring and development of energy efficiencies in each business participating in the program.

Activities: It is expected that the group will meet monthly and commence the ecoBiz program including calculations of baseline data.  Boardroom Business representatives will visit the premises of each business participating in the program to assist with the process. Both energy and food miles targets will be established and then participants will work towards implementing those targets.  Progress will be monitored and relationships developed to further the promotion of the use of local food within the region.

Expected project outcomes: The food mile project will
1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the food chain within the Region by businesses undertaking the ecoBiz process to reduce the energy, water and waste of the participating businesses
2. Boost business-to-business relationships between local businesses
3. Reduce food miles in the Region and in the food supply chain through:
･    Linking growers, producers and specialist food manufacturers with end users including restaurants, and accommodation and function venues and reducing impediments to shorter supply chains
･    Improving skills and business to business relationships in existing local supply chains and opportunities
･    Identifying productivity improvement and distribution opportunities for regional food businesses
･    Driving regional demand by increasing local consumer awareness, and
･    Assisting branding and marketing of the Gympie Region as a destination within the SEQ food tourism region by enhancing market penetration.


Principle project partners:  Boardroom Business is the organisation submitting the grant proposal.  Boardroom Business currently project manages the biannual Gympie Region Business Confidence Survey, commissioned by the Gympie Regional Council and works in partnership with the Region’s chambers of commerce. The Gympie Regional Council is a strong supporter of the project and will help facilitate the project alongside other regional economic development projects.  Additional project partners are warmly welcomed.

Why get involved?:  Did you know that on average, ecoBiz partners have reduced their energy consumption by a fifth, their water consumption by a third and their waste by a half and each business has ended up saving thousands of dollars?  In addition, business participating in this food miles cluster will not only start to source more produce locally but also be part of a region wide promotional campaign.

How to get involved:  There are primarily two ways you can get involved with this project:
1.    Business Cluster participant:  If you are a business operating in the food sector and are interested in getting involved, we warmly welcome your enquiry.  There is no cost to participate and we are looking for 20 local businesses that are passionate about sustainability and working collaboratively on the aims and objectives of this project.
2.    Project supporter: If you are an organisation working closely with businesses in the food sector and have similar aims and objectives to those of this project, we warmly welcome your support and/or assistance.  A letter of support is the first step.

Project contact details: If you would like to get involved please contact:
･    Anne Lawrence, Boardroom Business.  Ph: 07 5430 6646 
Email: anne@boardroombusiness.com.au