A survey aimed at Eyre Peninsula croppers is aiming to gather information to ensure the local grain industry get maximum benefit out of the proposed Eyre Hub at Kimba.
Eyre Hub Board chairman Andrew Baldock said the data collected was critical to bringing the project to fruition and ensuring it engages with the right businesses and people, to provide the services that will benefit the whole region.
"We are asking all EP growers to participate in the survey, to better understand growth potential in various commodities with the proposed introduction of storage and processing capacity locally," he said.
"The Eyre Hub proposal for a multi-user grain and transport services facility has received very positive feedback and capturing relevant data through surveys of potential users is important.
"The grain side of Eyre Hub is focusing on attracting storage segregations and processing capacity for commodities such as pulses and oats.
"Oats are fast becoming recognised for their health benefits and the recent announcement of the state government commitment of $1.8 million to establish a Value-Added Oats Centre of Excellence at Waite Institute, as well as $1.2m for SA to partner in a Pulse Protein Cooperative Research Centre is timely, as Eyre Hub investigates current and emerging opportunities for growers and oat processing on the EP.
"Pulse segregation, including lentils and field peas, has been very limited on EP for some time leading to issues for growers around storage and handling, cleaning and freight to market.
"Eyre Hub proposes to offer the opportunity to deliver pulses locally with value adding through the option for on-site cleaning and further processing as well as providing transparency through site-based pricing.
"We see these as strong growth sectors which provide opportunities for investors and growers alike and we want to better understand grower demand for these services through our market research and surveys."
Mr Baldock said the Board was working with potential investors to capture greater value from the region's bulk commodities.
"There are great opportunities to utilise off-spec grains and bi-products of the cleaning plant to produce animal feeds such as pellets," he said.
"There are also opportunities in pulse fractionation and value adding on site.
"We need to evaluate the potential for growth of various commodities should local markets be developed, and this survey will provide the information to back our vision.
"We strongly urge local EP growers to complete the survey, to give us the best information to provide to potential stakeholder businesses."
- Details: eyrehub.com.au
