The ‘Grains Industry Strategic Planning Project’, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the grains industry and the Australian Government, will map out the industry’s medium-term direction, and the key issues to be managed.

The study, commissioned by the Grains Council of Australia and managed by Mr Alan Umbers, a grain grower and consultant from Trundle, NSW, will establish a blue-print for the grain industry’s development over the next 10 to 15 years.

Mr Umbers said the consultants selected for the job, Pocknee Benjamin and Associates, had been charged with objectively and independently examining the changes, pressures and issues facing all grains produced in Australia.  The terms of reference are to:

• articulate a vision for the grains industry for the next 10-15 years;

• examine the industry’s agronomic and economic sustainability, and

• determine the structure, function and operation of Australia’s grains industry arrangements, including marketing and research.

The consultants have been conducting interviews with a range of industry participants and are now moving onto the next stage of the process, which is the Grains Industry Search Conference.

The Search Conference will explore feedback from the initial interviews and prior industry analyses as a basis for the generation of short, medium and long-term Grains Industry Scenarios. The Grains Industry Strategic Plan is designed to cover four planning horizons: 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.

In late 2002, the GCA commissioned two preliminary studies presented at Grains Week 2003.  One, carried out by the CSIRO, considered the Future Sustainability of the Australian Grains Industry.  The second study, undertaken by marketing consultant, Mr Ron Storey, examined the structures, operations and functions of Australia’s grain industry arrangements.

Today, Mr Umbers was presented with a report by the Grain Growers’ Association (GGA) on a national series of twenty-two workshops held around Australia, underwritten by the GGA where the participants identified some key priorities for the industry in the next decade.

GCA President Mr Keith Perrett welcomed the GGA report coming out of the grower workshops.  “The report will add to the growing body of information being gathered by the consultants and provide the basis for the development of a strategic plan for a vibrant world class grain industry,” Mr Perrett said.