New economic snapshot of Queensland primary industries goes online

The Palaszczuk Government has launched a powerful new interactive online tool that will enhance the marketing and expansion of Queensland’s agricultural sector.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the AgTrends Spatial mapping platform provides an important economic snapshot of Queensland’s primary industries.

“Whether it’s how many bananas are grown on the Cassowary Coast or how many sheep producers are in the Balonne Shire, everything you ever wanted to know is now available online,” Mr Furner said.

“This type of data will underpin our ability to grow agricultural industries across Queensland and create jobs.

“Having up-to-date information available on demand serves many purposes.

“It can help potential investors see where major commodity production areas are located, assist existing agribusiness to climate proof by diversifying in other areas, and help potential export markets understand where, and what seasons, they can source produce from.”

Mr Furner said the online tool also includes the number of people employed in agricultural industries in every local government area in Queensland.

“This type of information shows how important agriculture is to rural and regional economies and can provide a baseline for future investment in rural skilling and training, for example,” he said.

“Another user-friendly feature is the ability to generate an economic profile report for agriculture anywhere in Queensland to calculate the estimated gross value of agricultural production.

“You can also use AgTrends Spatial to produce agricultural value assessment reports, investigate bulk water opportunities for agriculture and view the latest tree crop mapping for avocado, macadamia, mango and banana trees.”

AgTrends Spatial uses information from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries biannual Queensland AgTrends report and agricultural census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

It can be found at https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/agribusiness/agtrends-spatial

ENDS

Media contact:           Ron Goodman            0427 781 920