Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s briefcase, South Australia’s first commercial agave crop for tequila, tradies recognised at national awards, and Coopers visits the tropics with a new release ale.
South Australia’s first commercial agave crop planted
The first commercial agave crop has been planted in South Australia by plant-based technology company Vircura, working with The Madgett’s Block.
There will be 1200 agave tequilana plants, also known as blue agave, which take between three and six years to grow.
The Madgett Block will then work with Vircura to find a buyer interested in the distilling.
“Tequila is one of the fastest growing spirits popularity-wise internationally, and it is an industry which could grow significantly in Australia over the coming years,” said Vicura general manager Adam Djekic.
“Agave could provide a new direction for many grape growers who want to stay in agriculture but are questioning their future viability or wanting to diversify.”
– Isabella Kelly
Australian Rare Earths applies for exploration licence
Australian Rare Earths has applied for a South Australian Exploration Licence to add approximately 200 square km of prospective tenure for uranium mineralisation in the Callabonna Sub-basin.
The company’s CEO and managing director Travis Beinke said the application “bolsters our prospective uranium tenure to 3400km2”.
“Our strategic expansion into this area is the latest step in our strategy of securing ground in South Australia that is prospective for uranium resources,” he said.
“We anticipate an early start to on-ground exploration once the license is granted, with planning for our work programs already underway.”
The area is approximately 165km northeast from Leigh Creek, and less than 50km east of the Beverly and Four Mile uranium mines.
– Isabella Kelly
Winners from the 2023 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards. Photo: supplied
South Australian tradies recognised
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The finalist list of the 2024 Australian Trades Small Business Champion Awards has been announced, with 15 South Australians making the list which recognises top-performing trades-based small business operators.
“The overall quality of submissions received this year is very high, so the ultimate formation of our 2024 shortlist was no easy task for our judges,” awards founder and managing director of Precedent Productions Steve Loe said.
“The Australian trades sector is arguably amongst the most complex, but it’s also among the most resilient and certainly hardworking. It’s truly a privilege to help spotlight those in South Australia who are demonstrating excellence in their trade and encouraging future generations of Aussie trades too.”
South Australian finalists are: HNT Facilities, Airworks Heating and Cooling, Riviera Bakery, Blossom Homes Developers, Joseph Parsons Carpentry, Adelaide Urban Electrical, GESA Electrical, Adelaide Earthmoving Contractors, Daldry Landscape Maintenance, Double Glazing SA, Akers of Lawn, Stellar Restoration Services, Playford Plumbing and Gas, Bennett & Co Industries, and Orizon Homes.
– Isabella Kelly
HEX expands to Vietnam
Edtech startup HEX, co-founded by 40 Under 40 alumni Chris Hoffman, has expanded to Vietnam, offering 100 scholarships.
The company will be offering high school, TNE, and pre-university education in Vietnam, with 100 scholarships on offer to the HEX degree accelerator courses.
The $1200 worth of scholarships will be available for the first to sign up, with the programs to be coordinated from Ho Chi Minh City.
– Isabella Kelly
The 2024 Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards have opened. Photo: supplied
Agriculture awards open
The Agriculture Bureau of South Australia has launched the 2024 Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards, opening to nominations from young farmers and rural youth making positive impacts on their communities.
The awards provide financial support among other opportunities to people aiming to improve their personal and professional development.
Awards include the Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship ($10,000 grant) and the Rural Youth Bursary ($5000 grant).
“We urge members of South Australia’s rural communities to apply for one of our scholarships, if they are committed to pursuing their dreams,” said Janette Ridgway, chair of the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia.
– Isabella Kelly
iTech Minerals applies for new tenement
iTech Minerals has applied for a new tenement in the Northern Territory, at its Reynolds Range Project.
The application, if granted, would more than double iTech’s ground holding in the area, from 375km2 to 792km2.
“The ground covers the same trends prospective for gold, copper-gold-silver and lithium mineralisation as confirmed by recent rock chip sampling results,” managing director Mike Schwarz said.
– Isabella Kelly
SA Food Waste Reduction, An AACCI and FACCI event designed to highlight the export and overseas investment prospects for South Australia, with Susan Close and End Food Waste Australia CEO Steve Lapidge, at Oui Chef on July 31.
2024 CEDA Economic Outlook, an event presenting the latest on the global, national and state economies with CEDA’s senior economist Melissa Wilson at KPMG on August 15.
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Tech Harvest – Ingenuity in Agri-Business, an AmCham event on technology’s role in improving agricultural productivity with Elders managing director and CEO Mark Allison, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on August 29.
EuroMix, a French Australian Chamber of Commerce event celebrating food and wine and the partnerships between countries such as Austria, France, Germany, and Greece, with Minister for Multicultural Affairs Zoe Bettison at the Adelaide Convention Centre on August 29.
Australia’s Space Future Conference, a French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry event with REDARC Defence & Space and Neumann Space, at REDARC Electronics on September 5.
South Australian Business Index, an InDaily event presenting an independent ranking of South Australia’s top 100 companies, with Premier Peter Malinauskas, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on September 20.
Pink Yellow Blue Disco, a Flinders Foundation event raising funds for cancer research and care, at the Adelaide Convention Centre on October 12.
Marmota drilling program complete
Marmota has completed its first RC drilling program at Goolagong, in a first follow-up to a potential new gold discovery in the area.
“Goolagong is generating considerable interest at Marmota,” said chairman Colin Rose.
“Goolagong is just the canapé to start off a much larger gold drilling program: the rig will next be moving to Aurora Tank, and then on to Campfire Bore for the main course.
“We are looking forward to a tasty meal for our shareholders,” Rose said.
– Isabella Kelly
Gus Nathan of Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre was recognised at a national conference. Photo: supplied
HILT CRC’s Gus Nathan awarded
Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) research director Gus Nathan received an award at Cooperative Research Australia’s annual Collaborate Innovate Conference in Brisbane last week.
Nathan received the award for Enduring Industry-Research Collaboration, in recognition of his work driving the sustainability transition of heavy industry, including through instigation of HILT CRC.
HILT CRC is a collaborative venture linking industry, research, and government organisations working to decrease carbon in the heavy industry sector.
“HILT CRC is the only collaborative venture of its type in Australia specifically researching solutions to decarbonise heavy industry,” CEO Jenny Selway said.
– Isabella Kelly
Illuminate Adelaide attendee numbers revealed
Illuminate Adelaide saw over 1.3 million people attending events throughout July in the festival’s fourth edition.
The festival saw over 150 artists involved, with 62 from international companies.
“The city has been teeming with locals and tourists attending Illuminate Adelaide events and enjoying all the other cosmopolitan delights of South Australia’s brilliant capital,” said Illuminate Adelaide co-founders and creative directors Rachael Azzopardi and Lee Cumberlidge.
– Isabella Kelly
Photo: supplied
Coopers launches tropical brew
Coopers Brewery has launched its 2024 Vintage Ale, with this year’s craft-style beer an extra-strong tropical ale.
The brew has a blend of pineapple, mango and passionfruit aromas, with berry, spice, and melon flavours.
Managing director and chief brewer Tim Cooper said the pairing “creates an intriguing balance of tropical fruit and herbal notes”.
“We know that exclusive seasonal brews are a real hit with Australian drinkers. Coopers 2024 Vintage Ale has been released in limited quantities and is traditionally highly sought after, so fans should get in early to avoid missing out.”
The ale is the 24th in Coopers Brewery’s Vintage Ale series since it began in 1998.
– Isabella Kelly
