When Duncan Brown and his sister Selena Gomersall set their sights on 3000 acres within the Brisbane valley region, they saw potential. The pair saw an opportunity to create something larger than themselves. Their great grandfather Frederick also recognised this potential for agricultural innovation, relocating his family to the region to establish the Good Luck Friesian stud in the 1900s. Now, as fourth generation farmers these siblings have harnessed the pioneering attitude of Frederick, in the form of Brisbane Valley Protein.
Brown has been passionate about livestock production his whole life but it was only after relocating back to the Brisbane Valley after a stint down south that he was awakened to the incredible efficiency of modern protein production. “We began to recognise the shift Queensland was experiencing from ‘the mining boom to the dining room’ with global trends signifying this shift in protein demand. You can grow so much ethically and sustainably on a smaller portion of land as well, with a fraction of water and feed.”
Faced with significant possibilities, the siblings set their sights on encouraging local and state governments to establish Brisbane Valley Protein Precinct as a hub for the region. The masterplan vision for the region is to not only create a protein production and distribution centre, but also tertiary training facilities, food tourism capacity and community initiatives. One flagship of their operation is the niche market of game birds or quail, which has received a positive response. To cater to this demand, they now distribute anywhere from 2000 to 3000 quails per week across Queensland and Australia and into the international market in Hong Kong. “At the moment it’s humble beginnings. On one level we’ve achieved so much since 2016, however like any start up enterprise it’s still very early days.”
With both Brown and Gomersall bringing years of experience in social venture work with community at the forefront of their minds. Gomersall is the founder and CEO of Outback Futures, a not-for-profit mental and allied health services provider to rural and remote Queenslanders, while Brown has worked in youth and community development for years. “Aiding those in these regional and rural areas has always been at the heart of our vision. We’re trying to engage people with training and employment to create pathways. We want them to be involved in the food industry and allow them to be a part of the exportation of quality produce to the rest of the world.”
This sense of community strongly resonates with the pair, as they begin to connect those in rural areas to the city through this food tourism initiative. “The food, education, hospitality will offer an insight to those in the city on what we do, and what we’re trying to do. With this massive appetite in the city, it’s a win-win if those in urban areas can connect with the people who grow their food. If we can be a part of facilitating that then it’s great for everyone.”
