The future for Food & Fibre Gippsland is coming!
An exerpt from the Food & Fibre Gippsland Strategic Plan 2026-2029
Gippsland’s food and fibre sectors are entering one of the most important periods in our region’s history — and Food & Fibre Gippsland (F&FG) is stepping forward with renewed energy, purpose, and confidence.
After months of engagement with stakeholders, thoughtful review, and careful planning, we’re preparing to release our 2026–2029 Strategic Plan — a bold roadmap designed to strengthen our industries, grow our region, and position Gippsland as a national leader in sustainable, innovative food and fibre production.
And we can’t wait to share it with you.
A Stronger Vision for a Stronger Region
The upcoming plan brings F&FG into a new era, with a refreshed mission focused on collaboration, innovation, and strategic growth. Our direction recognises the changing needs of industry, the pressures of local and global markets, and the enormous opportunities across Gippsland.
Central to the strategy is a renewed commitment to our improved operations to:
Building a viable and resilient business model
Growing a diverse and stable revenue base
Operating with greater transparency and accountability
Embedding a culture of continuous improvement
This is about building an organisation that will deliver consistently, sustainably, and with impact.
A New Membership Model Designed for Clarity & Value
One of the most exciting changes is the introduction of a simplified, future‑ready membership model.
The new structure is easier to understand, fairer, and better aligned to industry needs.
It includes:
A General Membership offer is scaled for businesses with less than 10 employees, 10 to 99 employees and more than 100 employees.
Corporate Partners (Networking) and Corporate Partners (Premium) are offered valuable benefits and exclusive networking opportunities as well as co-branded participation in major events across the F&FG calendar.
Local Government Authorities, your local councils, are also offered a strategic partnership model that will see our strong ties provide support for regional development, industry access and active strategic partnerships.
Businesses based within Shires, that elect to participate as Strategic Partners, will be offered free Associate membership.
Members will benefit from stronger networks, greater visibility, active communications and more opportunities to collaborate in shaping Gippsland’s economic future.
Introducing Gippsland Trusted: A Regional Brand with Purpose
Perhaps the most transformative element of the strategy is the proposed activation of the Gippsland Trusted (GT) brand.
GT is more than a logo — it’s a powerful regional identity built to:
Showcase the authenticity, traceability and quality of Gippsland products
Boost visibility and pride for our regional producers
Strengthen SME participation in premium markets
Align our food and fibre producers with the region’s visitor economy, agritourism, and value chain initiatives
A sustainable funding model will support the brand’s rollout, including proposed LGA sponsorship, user subscriptions, and targeted grant investment.
Gippsland Trusted (previously named Gippsland Trusted Provenance) has the potential to become a widely recognised mark of excellence — a unifying symbol of what makes Gippsland exceptional.
A Fresh Look for a Forward‑Thinking Organisation
To reflect our renewed strategic direction, a soft rebrand of F&FG has been developed. This evolution signals a confident, modern organisation, one that is ready to lead.
It includes:
· A refreshed colour palette
· Updated visual elements
· Streamlined brand governance
· Consistent integration across digital channels and business operations
Building Revenue, Capability and Momentum
Food & Fibre Gippsland’s new strategic plan outlines the path forward as we grow through 2026 and 2027 and continue to evolve as we respond to our sector, the needs of our local producers and important economic opportunities. Modest but meaningful new revenue streams are expected through our Memberships, strategic partnerships, Gippsland Trusted subscriptions and of course our important work in agriculture and horticulture extension, through our network of funding partners.
Stay tuned, more news is coming
We’re a small team delivering big plans, so we appreciate your patience as we roll out our strategy over the coming weeks in February and March. We will be meeting with many of you to share our news and talk about what this means for you and your business. This strategic plan is more than a document; it’s a commitment to our members, our partners, and our region. It reflects where we are, where we’re going, and how we’ll get there — together.
The full plan is coming soon, and we’re excited to share the vision that will guide Gippsland’s food and fibre future. If you have any questions or would like to discuss what these plans mean for you, please contact our CEO, Simon Johnson on simon.johnson@foodandfibregippsland.com.au
