TasAgFuture Survey Sector Report: Food andbeverage processing

This report provides a basic summary of the 78 responses of individuals who selected food orbeverage processing as their main business. A total of 630 individuals participated in the survey from

across Tasmania. Other reports showing data for specific regions and main agriculture orfood business are available at utas.edu.au/tia/tasagfuture.

The final analysis of TasAgFuture survey data and the 100 in-depth interviews will beavailable on the TIA website in early 2019.

How to interpret the data contained in this report:Responses for each question have been summarised in a graph or data table.

These graphs detail the percentage of individuals who responded to the relevant questions

(excluding not applicable responses). It was not compulsory to answer all questions so the total

number of responses is variable.

You can access ‘total responses’ for each question by rolling your cursor over a specific part of

any chart.

Questions marked with ** summarise textual data that has been reclassified from questions with

the "Other, please specify” option.

In some cases, n/a responses and items with no responses have been removed for the purposes

of this report.

These preliminary results are based on raw data so should be interpreted with some caution.

Some questions from the original survey have been omitted from this report in cases where the data

was not relevant or was represented in a different question adequately.

Some questions have been added where data have been reclassified (e.g. postcodes became

geographical region, year of birth became age cohorts). Question numbers in the report differ from the

original survey.

1. Do you work in, or own a business in the following sectors in T asmania? (select all thatare relevant)

8% Farming or growing food (notincluding seafood)8% Farming or growing food (notincluding seafood)

59% Processing food products orbeverages59% Processing food products orbeverages

33% Both33% Both

2. Which of the following are included in your business or work? (select all that arerelevant)

Per

cent

Inte

nsive g

razin

g / dairy

Extensiv

e gra

zing

Mixed fa

rming

Tree, v

ine or b

erry cr

ops

Annual cro

pping

Farm fo

restr

y

Food pro

cess

ing / manufa

cture

Bevera

ges (e.g

. beer,

wine)

Agri-touris

m

Hobby farm

ing

None of t

hese

0

20

40

60

80

100

3. Which one of these is your main business or work? (select one)

78% Food processing /manufacture78% Food processing /manufacture

22% Beverages (e.g. beer, wine)22% Beverages (e.g. beer, wine)

5. In which region of the state is your main business located?

20% North20% North

37% South37% South

43% Cradle Coast43% Cradle Coast

7. What is your primary role in this business?

44% Owner and manager ofbusiness44% Owner and manager ofbusiness

4% Contributing family member4% Contributing family member

31% Employee in managementrole31% Employee in managementrole

15% Employee not inmanagement role15% Employee not inmanagement role

8. Which best describes the structure of the business?

6% Sole trader6% Sole trader

22% Family business22% Family business

22% Partnership / Trust22% Partnership / Trust

8% Public company8% Public company

40% Private corporation40% Private corporation

3% Don't know / unsure3% Don't know / unsure

Veryimportant Important

Neitherimportantorunimportant Unimportant

Veryunimportant Responses

T o g row the

business

Row %

61.5% 35.9% 2.6% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 78

T o develop new

markets

Row %

48.7% 41.0 % 10 .3% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 78

T o substantially

increase my

income

Row %

35.5% 40 .8% 21.1% 1.3% 1.3% 76

T o draw down

debt or build

equity

Row %

22.2% 50 .0 % 18.1% 8.3% 1.4% 72

9. T o you personally, how important are each of the following long-term goals?

T o create hig h

quality produce

Row %

90 .9% 9.1% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 77

T o pass on the

business to my

children

Row %

17.3% 21.2% 42.3% 11.5% 7.7% 52

T o create jobs

Row % 27.3% 49.4% 18.2% 3.9% 1.3% 77

T o contribute to

my community

Row %

37.7% 51.9% 10 .4% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 77

T o

maintain/develop

native habitat or

biodiversity

Row %

36.2% 40 .6% 18.8% 2.9% 1.4% 69

T o look after the

land

Row %

54.2% 38.9% 5.6% 0 .0 % 1.4% 72

T o reduce

environmental

impacts of the

business

Row %

55.3% 38.2% 6.6% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 76

T o pass the land

on in g ood

condition

Row %

56.7% 34.3% 9.0 % 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 67

T otals

T otal Responses 78

Veryimportant Important

Neitherimportantorunimportant Unimportant

Veryunimportant Responses

10. Which one of these long-term goals is most important to you at the moment? (selectone)

1% To reduce environmentalimpacts of the business1% To reduce environmentalimpacts of the business

4% To contribute to mycommunity4% To contribute to mycommunity

26% To grow the business26% To grow the business

50% To create high qualityproduce50% To create high qualityproduce

3% To pass on the business tomy children3% To pass on the business tomy children

10% To substantially increase myincome10% To substantially increase myincome

3% To draw down debt or buildequity3% To draw down debt or buildequity

3% To develop new markets3% To develop new markets

1% To create jobs1% To create jobs

Veryimportant Important

Neitherimportantorunimportant Unimportant

Veryunimportant Responses

Being

recog nised

for being

g ood at

what I do

Row %

33.3% 50 .0 % 11.5% 5.1% 0 .0 % 78

Making

hig h profits

or being

well-paid

Row %

16.7% 51.3% 24.4% 5.1% 2.6% 78

Being able

to stay on

the farm /

in this

place

Row %

28.6% 31.4% 30 .0 % 7.1% 2.9% 70

11. What motivates you? Please rate how important these drivers are for you.

Giving

something

back to the

land /

place

Row %

28.9% 51.3% 17.1% 1.3% 1.3% 76

Creating

hig h quality

produce /

products

Row %

79.2% 20 .8% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 77

Doing

work I

enjoy

Row %

57.7% 39.7% 2.6% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 78

Being my

own boss

Row %

26.8% 45.1% 18.3% 8.5% 1.4% 71

Working

outdoors

Row %

19.1% 33.8% 36.8% 7.4% 2.9% 68

Having a

lifestyle I

enjoy

Row %

53.8% 42.3% 3.8% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 78

T otals

T otal

Responses

78

Veryimportant Important

Neitherimportantorunimportant Unimportant

Veryunimportant Responses

12. Reflect on your role in the business. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagreewith the following statements.

Stronglyagree Agree

Neitheragree/disagree Disagree

Stronglydisagree Responses

Most of my business

activities are g uided by

the long -term objectives

Row %

38.5% 41.0 % 15.4% 5.1% 0 .0 % 78

I plan carefully before

taking action

Row %

32.1% 57.7% 7.7% 2.6% 0 .0 % 78

I spend time thinking

about the future of the

business

Row %

50 .0 % 46.2% 3.8% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 78

My actions are g uided

by what I’ve learnt from

experience

Row %

35.9% 52.6% 10 .3% 1.3% 0 .0 % 78

I try to follow industry

best practice

Row %

34.2% 55.3% 9.2% 1.3% 0 .0 % 76

I often g o with my g ut

feeling when making big

decisions

Row %

19.5% 41.6% 20 .8% 18.2% 0 .0 % 77

I try new ways of doing

thing s

Row %

37.2% 56.4% 6.4% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 78

I take measured risks

Row % 28.9% 57.9% 10 .5% 2.6% 0 .0 % 76

I invest time to learn new

thing s

Row %

36.4% 55.8% 7.8% 0 .0 % 0 .0 % 77

T otals

T otal Responses 78

13. Over the last 5 years, in which one of the following did the business invest theMOST money? (select one)

8% Purchasing or leasing land8% Purchasing or leasing land

1% Training or skillsdevelopment1% Training or skillsdevelopment

23% New processes ortechnologies23% New processes ortechnologies

1% Environmental sustainability1% Environmental sustainability

1% The community where thebusiness operates1% The community where thebusiness operates

14% Product development ordiversification14% Product development ordiversification

13% Market development orexploration13% Market development orexploration

31% Infrastructure (not water-related)31% Infrastructure (not water-related)

4% I don't know4% I don't know

14. **Other areas of major business investment specified

100% Expanding processes100% Expanding processes

15. Over the last 5 years, which of the following have influenced the business mostpositively? (select up to three options)

Per

cent

Technology c

ompanies

Consulta

nts or a

dvisers

Govern

ment agencie

s inclu

ding loca

l council

s

Universi

ty and re

search

org

anisatio

n (e.g

. UTAS, T

IA, C

SIRO)

Family a

nd friends

Peers or p

rofe

ssional n

etwork

Customers

Suppliers

Other

0

20

40

60

80

16. Please select the factors that are currently constraining the business from achieving itsgoals. (select as many as relevant)

Per

cent

Lack o

f suita

ble staff

Inadequate

training o

r

learning o

pportunitie

s

Limite

d acc

ess to

pro

ductive

land

Limite

d acc

ess to

wate

r

Strict e

nvironmenta

l regulatio

ns

Negative p

ublic p

erceptio

n of a

gricultu

re (e

.g. a

nimal

welfare

, pra

ctice

s, co

nserva

tion)

Remote lo

catio

n / lim

ited a

ccess

to se

rvice

s

Negative im

pacts o

f clim

ate va

riabilit

y

Restrict

ed acc

ess to

financia

l support

Limite

d support

from g

overn

ment

My health

and w

ellbeing

High freight a

nd transp

ort optio

ns / co

st

Incre

ased b

iosecu

rity ris

k / m

anagement

Changing consu

mer food p

refe

rence

s

Prese

nce o

f tre

es / fo

reste

d are

as on m

y land

Prese

nce o

f nativ

e anim

als on m

y land

Family is

sues (

e.g. r

elationsh

ip bre

akdown o

r child

ren le

aving)

Success

ion planning

Limite

d influ

ence o

n pro

duct va

lueOth

er0

50

25

75

19. Please indicate how much you agree / disagree with the following statements.

Stronglyagree Agree

Neitheragree/disagree Disagree

Stronglydisagree

Notapplicable Responses

My family

and/or local

community

provide me

with support

during hard

times

Row %

31.2% 44.2% 15.6% 2.6% 0 .0 % 6.5% 77

I often work

along side

my

neig hbours

or peers

without

expecting

any financial

return

Row %

20 .5% 49.3% 15.1% 4.1% 1.4% 9.6% 73

My social

connections

enable me

to influence

decisions in

my reg ion

Row %

13.5% 29.7% 31.1% 18.9% 4.1% 2.7% 74

I am actively

involved in

local

community

g roups (e .g .

fire brig ade,

school,

landcare,

associations,

clubs)

Row %

26.0 % 23.3% 15.1% 24.7% 5.5% 5.5% 73

T otals

T otal

Responses

77

20. T o prepare for the future, how likely is the business to adopt each of these strategies?

Highlylikely Likely Unsure Unlikely

Highlyunlikely Responses

Invest in research and development

Row % 25.0 % 43.1% 19.4% 9.7% 2.8% 72

Expand current operations

Row % 40 .5% 41.9% 10 .8% 6.8% 0 .0 % 74

Develop new products

Row % 42.9% 44.2% 9.1% 3.9% 0 .0 % 77

Increase liquid assets

Row % 13.0 % 15.9% 40 .6% 27.5% 2.9% 69

Sell the business

Row % 5.3% 10 .7% 16.0 % 30 .7% 37.3% 75

Integ rate vertically (business spans more

than one step of production, processing ,

marketing and retail)

Row %

30 .6% 36.1% 16.7% 11.1% 5.6% 72

Explore new markets for products

Row % 50 .0 % 42.1% 3.9% 3.9% 0 .0 % 76

Invest in new technolog ies

Row % 24.0 % 53.3% 13.3% 6.7% 2.7% 75

Owners to retire soon

Row % 5.3% 10 .5% 14.0 % 26.3% 43.9% 57

Diversify the business

Row % 14.9% 44.6% 23.0 % 10 .8% 6.8% 74

Keep the business as it is now

Row % 10 .8% 18.9% 17.6% 35.1% 17.6% 74

Increase off-farm income (any income

earned from work not related to the

farm)

Row %

10 .5% 22.8% 29.8% 26.3% 10 .5% 57

T otals

T otal Responses 77

23. **Other strategies you are likely to adopt

100% Build resilience / adapt100% Build resilience / adapt

24. What was the average annual turnover of the main business you have worked at overthe last 3 years?

14% Nil - $49K14% Nil - $49K

26% $50K – $199K26% $50K – $199K

13% $200K – $1.99Mil13% $200K – $1.99Mil9% $2Mil – $9.9Mil9% $2Mil – $9.9Mil

27% $10Mil+27% $10Mil+

12% I don't know / prefer not toanswer12% I don't know / prefer not toanswer

25. How many employees does the business have?

15% Non employing15% Non employing

38% 1-19 employees38% 1-19 employees

20% 20 - 199 employees20% 20 - 199 employees

27% 200+ employees27% 200+ employees

26. What sort of market do your products go into? (select all that are relevant)

Per

cent

Commodity: large/globalmarket for

undifferentiatedproducts

Niche: specialisedmarket or defined

segment of a largermarket

Boutique: small and veryspecialised market for

products that commanda premium price

I don't know0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

29. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

3% Year 123% Year 12

13% TAFE/Apprenticeship13% TAFE/Apprenticeship

29% Diploma/Certificate29% Diploma/Certificate

18% Bachelor's degree18% Bachelor's degree

38% Postgraduate degree38% Postgraduate degree

31. **What age cohort are you in? (reclassified from year of birth)

Per

cent

21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-800

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

32. Your gender:

57% Male57% Male

43% Female43% Female

We hope you found this report informative. Additional reports summarising the data according

to region and sector are available at utas.edu.au/tia/tasagfuture.