Official opening of Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia (FIPWA)
Introducing the Food Innovation Precinct WA (FIPWA) – a project of significant importance to the Peel region and the state of Western Australia. FIPWA is the result of tireless work by many stakeholders, including the Shire of Murray, the Peel Development Commission, the Australian Government, Murdoch University, Spinifex Brewery, and The GrowHub Innovations Company.
Located at 37 Dollyup Street in Stake Hill, FIPWA is a contributing factor in the region's strategic goals of creating new industries, more jobs, and a better quality of life through innovation. Its purpose is to deliver socio-economic transformation, agri-food growth, and commercialisation in Western Australia.
FIPWA includes $21.75 million in investment from the Australian Government's Regional Growth Fund and a further $14.5 million from the State towards the fit-out of the Food Technology Facility and an Enterprise Support Programme to stimulate activity.
The FIPWA project is a partnership between Murdoch University, Spinifex Brewery, and The GrowHub Innovations Company from Singapore, which has an exclusive commercial partnership with FIPWA. The project aims to scale up Western Australian agri-food and tech businesses, commercialise research and development, develop new agri-food technology, and contribute to industry innovation, growth, and exports through value-added activities while strengthening the domestic supply chain.
In addition to its potential economic impact, the FIPWA project addresses several regional characteristics that have been identified as areas for improvement. These include high unemployment rates, particularly among young people, a regional business market dominated by small owner-operated businesses, and a population-driven economy with limited export-oriented opportunities.
The Shire of Murray has experienced an unemployment rate as high as 10.6% in the last five years, with youth unemployment estimated at 19.3%. The majority of businesses in the region are small, with 63% being owner-operated and a further 34% employing between 1-9 staff.
Furthermore, many members of the workforce commute daily to jobs outside of the Peel region. The region's economy is largely driven by retail, healthcare, and education, with significant potential for growth in export-oriented industries.
The low education level within the Peel region is also a concern, with only 35% of the population attaining a year-12 or higher level of education, compared with 49% across WA. The FIPWA project aims to address these challenges by creating new industries and jobs through innovation and commercialization of research and development.
Once fully operational, the FIPWA project is expected to create 57 full-time equivalent (FTE) direct ongoing jobs, with an additional estimated 26 FTEs through flow-on supply chain effects throughout Western Australia. Moreover, a fully-utilized facility could potentially support 7.4 youth FTE's and 1.1 indigenous FTE positions. In the supply chain and related industries, almost 1500 jobs could be supported over the next five years.