Growers often suggest government policymakers should get out of the office and visit the farm to gain practical insights and learn more about the issues impacting production.
This week 20 policymakers did just that, learning more about the Australian grains industry as participants on the GrainGrowers Grains Immersion Tour (GIT).
Now in its tenth year, the tour offers a paddock-to-processing-port experience, covering farm production, research and development, plant breeding, logistics, and export pathways.
The South Australian tour included the following:
- Farm operated by Andrew Barr in Pinery in the lower north. The farm grows bread and durum wheat, canola, malt and feed barley, oaten hay, lentils, peas, faba beans and chickpeas.
- Australian Grain Technologies plant breeding operation at Roseworthy. AGT is a market leader in bread wheat, lupin, and durum genetics and is working on other crops, including barley and canola.
- Laucke Mills' feed manufacturing operations in Daveyston. The state-of-the-art feed mill manufactures bulk and bagged feed for local and interstate consumption.
- Coopers Brewery, Australia's oldest family-owned and run brewery.
- The Bunge port loading facility (outer Harbour) and grain quality laboratory, located at Thebarton.
Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, the APVMA, FSANZ, PIRSA, and GPSA attended the tour, accompanied by GrainGrowers policy staff.
GrainGrowers CEO Shona Gawel said the GIT was a great way of engaging with policymakers in a practical, hands-on manner.
"From our perspective, we are continually building relationships, but this approach provides a unique insight, further opening the door to meaningful discussions and building a deeper understanding of issues impacting growers and the grains industry."
"For some people attending, this was their first opportunity to go on a farm or visit industry facilities. Showcasing the industry in this way is a valuable part of our advocacy efforts."
Ms Gawel said the tour helped to build a deeper understanding with policy and decision makers of how the grains industry works.
"If we want to ensure appropriate policy settings are in place and investments are made, we need to continually build strong and ongoing relationships with people involved in the process. Judging from the feedback of those who attended, the GIT is a positive way of sharing what our growers experience on farm effectively," she said.
Ends
Images can be downloaded HERE.