Our project mission is to mobilise a collaborative team of farmers, processors, innovators and system thinkers to pioneer a sustainable dairy value-chain for the Sunshine Coast.

The last 20 years have presented the Australian dairy industry with new challenges making it difficult to farm profitably, attract and retain skilled people or introduce new innovations. The dairy industry is under pressure, however there can be a better way, with collaboration comes positive change. According to the Australian Dairy Plan’s Situation Analysis (May 2019), the following challenges were identified:

• Farmers input costs have increased and profit margins have diminished, farming methodologies have become more complex, large investments are questioned and confidence in farm investing continues to fall. Additionally, Australia’s climate volatility adds to production uncertainty and strong import competition means domestic producers are competing.
• Processors have invested heavily, however they’re now struggling to fill their  plants. Processors are transporting milk to fill regional shortfalls.Consumers are increasingly questioning the attributes of their food.
• Consumers also have changing preferences with milk alternatives becoming more popular. Consumers increasingly care about people, communities and our planet.

The path to a better future will require concerted and sustained collective industry action.

This is why, an open and collaborative group is forming – The Sustainable Diary Circle of the Sunshine Coast.

This is why the initiators on the Sustainable Dairy Circle are openly inviting you to join a collaborative team to solve these challenges.