Fractured or functional

BY DAN GALLIGAN, CEO, CANEGROWERS

Not for the first time and probably unfortunately not for the last, someone I was speaking to recently commented that our industry is too “fractured” for any significant progress to be made on diversification or viability issues.

Now I know that if you want to, we can all see evidence that supports the idea that fracturing at any level of the industry is hampering our progress. In fact across agriculture, fracturing hampers progress.

CANEGROWERS is and has always been heavily involved and collaborates deeply with many other industry organisations, whether they be in agriculture through the National and Queensland Farmers’ Federation where state and national issues are discussed and addressed or across sectors in renewable energy, mining or tourism. We have seen the good, the bad and those associations struggling, searching for purpose. In all situations, good will is required by diverse interests if we are to successfully collaborate.

We are not naive to our own challenges, and our differences from one district to another, from growers to millers, or irrigators and non-irrigators can cause challenges when bringing us together. However, despite any of this, just as it is at the state and national stage, good will and a shared vision does exist and we can see it in action.

So too at the political landscape where we are in search of political leadership, there are green shoots of a new approach by the State LNP Government led by Premier Crisafulli.

Their approach to develop a new 2050 blueprint and vision for Queensland agriculture is a welcome sign. CANEGROWERS has been heavily involved in this process that will be out soon for broader consultation. The blueprint process has already generated positive conversations across industry and government. Having a strong policy mandate to see the industry grow will be powerful leverage for the Queensland Agriculture minister who needs to demonstrate his ability to work across other key portfolios such as water, energy, natural resources, state development and of course treasury.

We cannot wait for government though, as an industry we must address the constraints we see now if we are to actually grow.

Work is happening across the districts. Just one example was on show at a recent MSF hosted workshop in Babinda that focused on the issues around harvesting. I was in the room, I didn’t see fractures, I saw challenges, but I also saw ideas and collaboration between mill workers, growers, harvest contractors and researchers. Everyone working together to see if a better outcome for all can be achieved. These types of discussions are actually happening all around the industry as well as at the state level between CANEGROWERS and Sugar Research Australia and the Australian Sugar Manufacturers. Things are far from perfect but if we work together, we can make it better.

CANEGROWERS is inviting all growers to come together to discuss our growth potential at Sugar Cubed on 28 and 29 April. It will be a perfect opportunity to catch up with other growers, be informed by excellent speakers and learn something new on our field trip.

Even more, through our work to align the event with the ASSCT conference, the opportunity for growers to stay on and talk directly with researchers literally on the doorstep. Wherever we see people coming together we see our biggest problems shared and our greatest opportunities delivered. We can do this – we have done so in the past and we can do it again now.