Collaboration brings about a national strategy to support growers

BY DAN GALLIGAN, CEO, CANEGROWERS

Last month in the magazine I spoke of the power of collaboration in advocacy.

Not only is it powerful, it is necessary. The more we work together the greater the outcomes. However collaboration does take time, money, effort and willingness to not win at all costs nor to be “seen” to be the best, but instead see the longer-term outcome. Not all organisations are willing to do this, but to be successful organisations and professional advocates need to first agree to the principle behind collaborative advocacy.

One month on, CANEGROWERS has delivered on several powerful examples. The industry is on the cusp of a potential new horizon of economic activity with emerging developments in the bioeconomy, particularly in relation to biofuels – sustainable aviation fuel and biodiesel.

It is work we started on in 2021 with other industry groups and our development of the Sugar Plus road map. This has spring boarded us to be working most recently with other members of Bioenergy Australia in the Renewable Fuels Meet Queensland Parliament briefings and events with Queensland politicians from all parties over the past month.

In addition, just the week before this magazine was published, we have worked with new and old partners, GrainGrowers, a fellow member of National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) to jointly call for a national biofuels feedstock strategy. We believe that if we are to see a domestic biofuels industry established, we need supporting policy that encourages investment in production and demand for biofuels. However this alone only builds demand and markets and does not guarantee supply of core product.

A national biofuels feedstock strategy would look at this emerging industry from a holistic approach to ensure there is sufficient feedstock, adequately aggregated and appropriately managed through either existing or new transport infrastructure. Finally, the strategy must ensure farmers are recognised in the supply chain and their resources supported in land use planning, farm management practices and associated environmental standards and conditions.

With a national strategy we can achieve our ideal goal of a complimentary biofuels supply chain that provides diversification for our great and successful existing sugar industry.

Our collaboration with GrainGrowers and ASMC has brought national attention to the major missing piece in the development of the biofuels industry – the management and support for primary producers.

The potential benefits of this emerging industry are profound for Queensland’s regional communities. But for these benefits to be shared it will only happen if there is acknowledgement of all primary producers and their contribution to this future success.

For this reason, CANEGROWERS will continue to work patiently but diligently and strategically with like-minded organisations that share our objectives.