How farms can partner with their value chain to share the costs and benefits of supporting First Nations Australian communities

This study explored how value chains in different industries and countries collaborate for social enterprise, and the underlying factors and models for success. While assisting aspiring First Nations Australians to establish enterprise was the aim of the study (and is encouraged) the findings, including the 8 Step Framework for Success, can be applied to other mutually beneficial programs such as carbon, biodiversity and sustainability goals.

Across the world, governments are stepping back from supporting social enterprise in vulnerable First Nations and developing communities. For the non-government organisations and charities serving communities that depend on this support, including many in agriculture, aid is no longer a reliable plan.

Australian farmers are well-placed, geographically and with industry knowledge, to assist aspiring First Nations Australian farmers to achieve their goal of self-determination. Farmers are also under pressure from value chain partners who outsource the burden of their climate and reconciliation goals to them as a requirement for market access. Could a collaboration within value chains be the solution to the capital required for such enterprise? Could value chain partners benefit through achieving their sustainability or reconciliation goals?

These questions initiated an 18-month investigation into collaborations globally, exploring industries that support social enterprise or other initiatives outside business as usual. The investigation uncovered models of collaboration (four models are summarised in Table 1) between farms, processors, retailers, distributors and suppliers in 15 countries who are sharing both costs and benefits of investing in and supporting the communities around them. And doing so is building resilience in their businesses and communities.