SMALL FARMERS WA PTY LTD
Join us in our vision to guarantee equitable, viable and permanent access to multispecies livestock processing in Western Australia.
Mission statement
We are farmers, processors and consumers.
We seek to guarantee equitable, viable and permanent access to multi species livestock processing in the South-West and Great Southern around which businesses can be built and thrive.
Producers should be able to provide consumers with choice and provenance, and consumers should expect to have that choice.
Regional communities should expect diversity of opportunity and economy, with the availability of training and apprenticeships leading to meaningful and prosperous careers.
We as a collective should expect a regulatory framework which is easily navigable, with provisions which are practical, appropriate and achievable.
Most importantly, we should be capable of doing what’s best for our animals and make the last day of their lives as stress free and humane as possible.
What's the point?
Who are we?
Those affected that Small Farmers WA intends to serve initially came together under the name WA Paddock to Plate Producers on Facebook. A group of several hundred small and medium scale businesses and others interested, based in the Great Southern and South West of Western Australia. A diverse mix of producer, processor and retail businesses represented by livestock farmers predominantly rearing sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, and deer as well as other specialty stock or (feral/natives), butchers, and food businesses.
What's the problem?
Many well established paddock to plate businesses provide local food with provenance to our communities. However, in order to do this they are required by law to have animals slaughtered at a registered abattoir, a requirement that is becoming increasingly difficult due to the dwindling number of abattoirs choosing to provide custom kill services to producers.
As processing options become limited, many are forced to travel much greater distances to access alternatives, creating animal welfare concerns, increasing costs and decreasing the viability of doing business. If the trend of fewer and fewer processing options continues, many will no longer be able to operate their family businesses built from scratch, and with this loss of income comes the real possibility some may also be forced to leave their homes and farms.
Proposed solutions
Small Farmers WA Pty Ltd, a privately owned company has come together to design and build a practical, efficient abattoir for paddock-to-plate producers. Our leadership team has combined expertise in farming, construction, and operations and is focused on creating a facility that meets the specific needs of Western Australian producers. The abattoir will streamline the processing of livestock, ensuring quality and reliability while supporting producers in delivering fresh, high-quality products directly to their customers. The project aims to provide a vital service for producers to maintain control over their supply chain and connect more closely providing provenance to their local economies and communities.
Current actions
We are currently working on feasibility studies inhouse but also arranging independent verification as quickly as we can and are in continual discussions with shires, all relevant government planning and regulatory agencies as well as the Great Southern Development Commission. We have provisionally secured 2 site options. Once this study is completed, we intend to move straight into Implementation and submit final development applications.
We are also working quickly to get legal documentation in place to allow us to issue shares to interested parties to diversify company ownership, prioritising ownership by the farmers who stand to benefit from the service.
What can you do?
Please consider registering as a member on this page (via Log In/Sign up tab at top of page). Membership is free and will provide you, access to our business development blog in the members area, investment opportunity, and priority access to slaughter bookings way down the track.
Your membership will also help lend weight to what we need in support from government to achieve our goals. As we build out this website and If you'd like to be featured/promoted please contact us at admin@smallfarmerswa.com.au.