Seafood CRC: Australian edible oyster industry business plan
The project aims to a) resolve a lack of direction for the oyster industry's R & D investment and b)
provide direction for the industry's growth. In order to construct this it is essential to examine:
• Market development
• Production efficiencies
• Supply chain management
• Environmental sustainability
• Community perception
• Industry structure
• Human capital
• Regulatory environment
• Financial performance
The overarching objective is to facilitate industry growth, value and increase farm profitability, hence the reason for a Business Plan rather than a strategic plan.
The Consortium has purposely named the project ‘Business Plan’ as it needed a plan that;
• is more than a strategic plan confined to R & D purposes
• will contain achievable profitability and growth goals having examined industry financials and other
constraints
• will propose models for conducting the future ‘business’ of the oyster industry, one of which is likely to
be a new incorporated national entity
Each state has varying levels of strategic plans, some designed for policy direction, others for R&D, but
none examine the industry at a national level. To assist industry set future strategies an analysis of the
national industry and development of a 5 year business plan is required. The business plan will be used
to guide industry advocacy, policy and R&D groups at a state and national level.
Final report
The Australian oyster industry comprises approximately 550+ individuals and businesses located principally in three states, NSW, South Australia and Tasmania. A predominately family owned, owner-operated industry in 2007, the industry had a projected net farm gate value of between $90 and $100 million. Including owner operators, the industry employs in the vicinity of 2,000 full and part time employees and owners.
This Business Plan provides a national Business R&D plan to the Australian oyster growing sector for the period 2010-2014.
The Business Plan lists 3 core objectives for the Oyster Consortium to address.
- To sustainably increase industry production to 20 million dozen, net profit by 10% and industry Gross Value of Production (GVP) to $120 million per annum.
- To increase oyster consumption by 13% to 0.93 dozen per capita and achieve an 80% satisfaction rating from our markets and customers through the supply of consistently high quality oysters.
- Through the formation of a national industry organization, build capacity, leadership and confidence in the industry through the services it provides to growers and others.
