Innovative Farming Australia conference 2006

( NOTE: If a copy of a speakers presentation is available it may be downloaded by clicking on their name)

The double edged sword of ‘Globalisation and its Impact on Farming in Australia’ was the theme of the 2006 Innovative Farming Australia conference, held in Melbourne in October.

Once again the conference attracted delegates from around Australia, including farmers who represented a range of commodities, government and industry representatives and media. The conference, now in its third year, is regarded as one which challenges the agricultural fraternity on current issues – and also focuses on innovation and the future of the younger farming generation.

A pre-conference tour (464 k pdf) to the Mornington Peninsula on Wednesday, October 4th, kicked off with a visit to the Melbourne Wholesale Markets, where delegates were taken on a tour of the bustling Market to look at where much of their own produce is delivered and on-sold to retailers.

The delegates then were addressed by three speakers, including Ms Mary Stewart, Marketing Manager, Melbourne Market Authority, Mr Brendon Hopley, General Manager, Supply Chain Management Costa Logistics and Mr Adrian Parsons from Wafex Melbourne – Australia’s leading flower exporter.

After the Market visit and presentations, the conference delegates then traveled to the Mornington Peninsula to visit three innovative farming businesses.

First stop was Gazzola Farms at Somerville. Gazzola Farms farm over 600 acres of horticulture, and are considered an outstanding example of innovative farming – investing in state-of-the-art grading, chilling and resource management technology.

The group then visited TGA Australia, also in Somerville, a 25 acre ‘semi-advanced’ tree business, established 25 years ago by Mr Peter Wilkins, and which now supplies major retail outlets, landscapers and property developers nationally with semi-mature trees and shrubs.

The final visit for the pre-conference tour group was conference Committee member, and past-Nuffield scholar himself, Max Jelbart’s, Caldermeade, a working dairy farm which has also expanded into tourism, hosting daily visits by the general public who are able to watch the day-to-day workings of a dairy farm. The enterprise also runs a café which features locally produced products.

On Thursday, October 5th, the formal conference convened in the Telstra Theatrette in Melbourne, which was opened by His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery (274 k pdf), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The conference then kicked off, with international guest Matt Demspey, Editor of the Irish Farmers Journal, who gave the key note address “Globalisation and its impact on World Agriculture”. Mr Demsey was also the conference MC over the next two days.

Other topics, including Matt Dempsey’s keynote address, covered over the two day conference were:

• Accessing Markets in a Global Environment
• Free Trade versus Quarantine Integrity
• The Impact of Innovative Technology
• Prospering in a Global Environment

Conference guest speakers addressing these topics, which generated much discussion and debate between the speakers and audience, were:

• Matt Dempsey, Editor, Irish Farmers Journal (551 k pdf)
• Colin Teese, Former Deputy Secretary, Department of Trade
• Mr Peter Mackie, Managing Director, Gilmac Pty Ltd of New Norcia Farming Property, WA
• Stephen O’Rourke, Managing Director, Murray GoulburnCo-Operative
• John Corboy, Managing Director, Corboy Fresh Fruit, and former Chairman of SPC Ltd
• Tim Reid, Reid Fruits and Inaugural President Fruit Growers of Tasmania (6.8 MB pdf)
• Fran Freeman, General Manager, Multi Lateral Trade Branch, International Division, DAAF
• Trevor Stevenson, Food Sciences School, RMIT University (500 k pdf)
• Richard Heath, Grain Grower, NSW and Nuffield Scholar (2.6 MB pdf)
• Jeff Bidstrup, National Convener, Producers Forum (also a cotton & grain farmer from Qld) (1.26 MB pdf)
• Tim Hunt, Senior Analyst, Food & Agriculture Research team, Rabobank (440 k pdf)
• Lou Chirnside, Victorian and international tomato grower (1.42 MB pdf)
• Lachie Hart, Stockyard Beef, Qld (421 k pdf)

The conference also featured presentations from 2005 Nuffield Farming Scholars, who had recently returned from their study tours overseas. These outstanding presentations were from:

• Tracey Lefroy, Dongara, WA (1.6 MB pdf)
• Tony Barker, South Riana, Tasmania (4.9 MB pdf)
• Tim Napier, Goondiwindi, Qld (3.8 MB pdf)
• Andrew Nagorcka, Yatchaw, Victoria (3 MB pdf)
• Sarah Ackland, Apsley, Tasmania (2.9 MB pdf)
• Andrew Broad, Bridgewater on Lodon, Victoria (3.8 MB pdf)

It was noted that these young farmers are the future of the industry, and their presentations confirmed they have very strong views and opinions on where the industry is heading, as well as innovative ideas on how to improve it.

The conference gala dinner (330 K pdf) was held at the iconic MCG, with a tour of the new MCG facilities preceding dinner. A fashion parade by 1997 Nuffield scholar, Kerrie Richards of ‘Merino Country’ wool clothing business was also a highlight of the evening, along with an ‘Innovation in Sport’ panel led by Tim Lee, ABC Landline presenter.

The conference concluded with the annual Nuffield Australia Farming Scholars New Scholar presentation, which was held at the Naval and Military Club. 14 new scholars were presented at the luncheon.

Sincere thanks go to the sponsors of the 2006 Innovative Farming Australia conference, whose support is invaluable to the conference. Sponsors were:

• Australian Nuffield Farming Scholars’ Association
• Incitec Pivot
• NAB Agribusiness
• Bayer
• Rabobank
• Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry
• Stock and Land
• Murray Goulburn Co-operative

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