Last week GrainGrowers’ National Policy Group (NPG) met in Sydney to discuss challenges and opportunities in the Australian grains industry. It is vital for the organisation to engage with growers directly and to discuss the best way to advance the industry. This meeting was also a chance to welcome newly appointed NPG members for their first meeting. David Robb (Bungunya QLD), Rob Weinthal (Gunnedah NSW) and Tom Carberry (Narrabri NSW) joined the NPG as northern representatives. Also welcomed was Dr Amity Dunstan (Telangatuk East VIC) who is filling a casual vacancy in the southern region for the remainder of 2025.
As always, the group covered a lot of ground, including a lengthy discussion on natural capital accounting. GrainGrowers is developing a policy position on natural capital and is assessing the risks and opportunities of natural capital accounting and markets. When looking at an issue like natural capital, there is a need to establish what it could mean for growers (both the positives and negatives), and how to ensure it supports the ongoing profitability and sustainability of grain growing. GrainGrowers then assess how government and industry can assist and develop policy to ultimately advocate on the issue.
The group discussed the much talked about incoming mandatory climate-related financial disclosure requirements which will, over time, require Scope 3 emissions reporting. There is a lot of discussion regarding carbon, emissions and associated reporting and it is all hard to grapple and piece together. GrainGrowers will prepare materials to help growers understand what is coming and to better make sense of the jigsaw.
GrainGrowers continues to monitor access to key farm inputs and especially crop protection products like Paraquat and Diquat. While the review of those chemicals is now in the hands of the APVMA, the outcomes of the review and the ongoing performance of the APVMA is fundamental to grain growing.
GrainGrowers also presented some recently completed work on genetically modified (GM) and genetically edited (GE) grains. As you may have seen, there has been a lot of development in biotechnology recently with trial work well underway in Australia. As with the introduction of GM Canola, these processes are never simple. GrainGrowers wants to ensure the organisation has learnt from previous experiences and that industry is well organised and coordinated as these new technologies enter the market. This will be an ongoing piece of work, with impacts on growers undoubtedly GrainGrowers’ main focus.
And finally, there is a budget and a federal election around the corner. GrainGrowers uses these opportunities to discuss with government how to ensure the grains sector, and regional communities, thrive. To read more about what GrainGrowers has suggested, you can read the recently released Pre-Budget submission and federal election priorities.
While the NPG is a great vehicle to get grower insights on GrainGrowers’ work, it is always great hearing directly from you about what is impacting your business. If you want to get in touch and raise any issues, please contact us.
Words by Zachary Whale, GM - Policy & Advocacy