Charles Sturt University (CSU) has partnered with the Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West to support local food producers.

The project has won the backing of Cadia Valley Operations which has provided $120,000 toward the project.

RDA projects manager Amanda Haigh said working groups would be established to determine how major institutions could buy more local produce.

“Some institutions do really want it and some would like to do more,” she said.

Ms Haigh said they would also look at establishing a data base of products and producers for the institutions.

“It’s not going to be for everyone, we are just aiming for an increase,” she said.

RDA Central West CEO Julia Andrews said they had been working on a pilot project in 2017-18 to form the Farm to Institution Central West NSW network.

“The project arose out of a need to bridge the disconnect between the region’s agricultural industry and institutions with catering, which is a missed opportunity for Central West NSW,” she said.

Ms Andrews said the project was the “first of its kind” in Australia.

“From little things, big things grow,” she said.

Ms Andrews said they were calling on institutions and producers to sign up and be part of the project.

“We have created a sign-up page on our RDA Central West website for interested institutions and producers in the region to join the network and work with us to create more efficient regional supply chains,” she said.

CSU vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said CSU would be the research partner in the project.

“We are looking forward to working with RDA to explore ways for CSU to increase our purchase of local produce,” he said.

“The more we can control our own destiny the more we can invest in our communities ourselves the better things are going to be for us.”

Cadia Valley Operations manager health safety environment and social responsibility Nedra Burns, said the company had provided $20,000 toward the pilot project and a further $100,000 for the ongoing project.

“We are supporting this innovative initiative through our Community Partnerships Program, leading the way in implementing this first-of-its-kind project in Australia.”

Member for Calare Andrew Gee said Central West producers should be supported locally.

“Our primary production is our strength out here and we have got to play to our strength,” he said.

“We’ve got to be looking after our own people and doing everything that we can to support local producers.”