Agribusiness

The western rock lobster industry contributes $282 million and around 900 jobs directly to the Western Australian economy with an overall impact of more than $500 million, a new report has found.

A new accelerator program for startups in the agribusiness sector will get under way next year after securing funding from the state government's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

An economy in transition offers hope for WA to emerge with a broader base.

The dairy sector needs a mandatory code of conduct to give farmers more bargaining power and to prevent chaos like that spawned by surprise cuts to the farmgate milk price in 2016, the competition watchdog says.

Western Australian avocado farmer Jennifer Franceschi has won a category in the national Telstra Businesswoman of the year awards, although News South Wales-based refugee advocate Violet Roumeliotis took out the top prize.

Embattled sandalwood producer Quintis has been thrown a lifeline after entering into a high-interest debt facility for up to $US20 million ($15 million), while also announcing a net loss after tax of $416.8 million for the year to June 2017.

The private investors in sandalwood business Santanol Group, led by Tony Jack and Bob Bunning, have gained backing from litigation funder IMF Bentham for their fight against private equity group KKR.

The Western Australian cooperative and mutuals sector continues to perform strongly on the national stage, with WA accounting for four of the country's top 10 co-ops and mutual enterprises, a new report has found.

Cuts to Chinese production and inaction by some big mining companies could present an opportunity for WA resources players.

Jennifer Franceschi has invested millions preparing for a surge of new avocado production entering the market.

A Cottesloe-based agribusiness is hoping to improve operational productivity by increasing its use of data across the life cycle of its livestock and in its supply chain management.

The state's largest citrus packing facility opened in Bindoon today, supporting an export industry that is seeing huge growth.

Shark Bay shellfish producer Mareterram is expanding into the mackerel business with the $4.95 million purchase of an established fishing fleet, support vessels, and licences.

Seafood business Mareterram has announced a leadership reshuffle following the retirement of chairman Peter Hutchinson.

Avocado grower and Fresh Produce Alliance co-founder Jennifer Franceschi has been named the Telstra Western Australian Businesswoman of the Year, joining an alumni that includes Gina Rinehart.

Troubled Indian sandalwood producer Quintis has ended its sales agreement with a Chinese customer that was being investigated for customs evasion.

SPECIAL REPORT: Mitsui & Company, Shell and Itochu Corporation are among a swag of businesses that have made substantial investments in the state's exporting industries over the decades, showing that foreign investors can contribute without directly operating assets.

SPECIAL REPORT: Roy Hill Holdings and Chevon have joined the likes of Rio Tinto, BHP, Woodside and CBH Group in an updated ranking of WA's largest exporters in the BNiQ Search Engine.

Cooler conditions and decent rainfall have prompted the grain industry association to boost production forecasts across regional Western Australia by 12.4 per cent.

West Perth-based CBH Group hit new records for grain shipments and rail movements in the 12 months to the end of September, the cooperative said today.

Grain co-operative CBH Group has been ordered to pay more than $40,000 after insufficient guarding on machinery led to a worker being so badly injured she had to have one finger amputated.

Local agribusiness Wellard has promoted non-executive director Fred Troncone to an executive position on the board, as its founder and chief executive committed to remaining with the company until at least the end of the year.

Shares in Australia's biggest cattle exporter, Wellard, have surged after the company agreed terms for its long-awaited first shipment of beef cattle to China.

The production of crickets for human and animal consumption could be a fresh frontier for Western Australia's agribusiness industry, if a Pinjarra-based small business fulfils its potential.

Fremantle Octopus hopes a new trap and some extra cash will propel its business into a much broader marketplace.

Fogarty Wine Group's Margaret River Vintners business has expanded its operations, taking on the Evans & Tate brand and assets, the Smithbrook and Pemberton Estate vineyards, and buying the Amadeus vineyard at Wilyabrup

The founders of four Western Australian businesses, in industries ranging from mining software and horticulture to construction and industrial equipment, have been selected as finalists in the 2017 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards.

Cattle exporter Wellard says the China market has potential but only if prices for Australian cattle come down.

Profit at pastoral and winery business Heytesbury Holdings fell more than 57 per cent in the year to December 2016, to $11.7 million, on the back of lower revenue.

Some of the major players formerly behind essential oils business Mt Romance are involved in a new sandalwood player in Western Australia, which is half-owned by an indigenous group.

A group of Western Australian investors has started legal action against US-based KKR, calling on the private equity giant to buy them out of Indian sandalwood producer Santanol Group at fair value or else have the business wound-up.

UPDATED: The federal government has declined to provide co-funding for two irrigation projects in Western Australia's South West that were expected to trigger a total investment of $460 million and create 1,500 jobs, after an expert panel found the WA government did not fully address the assessment criteria.