Workshops focus on grain trade and market access

GPSA's Trade and Market Access Workshops will build on the Market Ready and Beyond the Silo campaigns launched in late 2020, with the aim of increasing growers' understanding of trade and market access barriers, market requirements and diversification opportunities.

The full-day workshops will be split into two parts, with experienced biosecurity consultant Will Zacharin facilitating the Market Ready session in the morning.

This session will highlight the perspectives of exporters, storage and handling companies, researchers, agronomists and local farmers to increase knowledge regarding on-farm grain hygiene practices and obligations under the Grain Industry Market Access Forum's Industry Management Plan.

GPSA chair Adrian McCabe said it was important the industry worked together to maintain high standards of grain quality, particularly when considering requirements for export markets.

"Education is key to ensuring growers and advisers are aware of their responsibilities under the IMP," he said.

"These workshops will provide a practical overview of the IMP and tips on how aspects of the plan can be implemented on-farm and along the supply chain.

"The grain industry needs to work together to ensure hygiene standards are being met. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility."

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In the Beyond the Silo session in the afternoon, attendees will hear from Thomas Elder Markets co-manager Andrew Whitelaw, who will engage attendees with world market dynamics and global grain outlooks, including on-farm diversification strategies to target emerging markets.

The workshops, held in partnership with Grain Trade Australia, will also cover key trade rules governing grain contracts and provide an overview of the Australian Grain Industry Code of Conduct.

"The workshops will address risks to the broader industry arising from reliance on key export markets, including understanding biosecurity and market access requirements and an awareness of other trade barriers such as tariffs or quotas impeding market access," Mr McCabe said.

"Workshop attendees will be provided with several resources including a guide to selling grain using grain contracts, a price discovery guide, fact sheets and case studies to help them better understand grain marketing.

"Additionally, as SA heads into its first season where genetically modified canola may be grown on the mainland there is a need to inform growers about price discovery and standards for non-GM grain in considering whether to grow GM varieties in 2021."

Workshops will be held throughout February at Wudinna, Cummins, Yorketown, Balaklava, Tailem Bend and Naracoorte.