Western Australian grain grower owned research investment company, the Council of Grain Grower Organisations Ltd (COGGO), has promoted Executive Officer, Geoff Smith to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as commercialisation continues for new canola and wheat varieties it has invested in.

COGGO is a major shareholder in Grain Biotech Australia Pty Ltd (GBA) and Canola Breeders Western Australia Pty Ltd (CBWA), which will both have new varieties growing commercially in Western Australia for the first time next season.

According to Bindi Bindi grower and COGGO Chairman, Bruce Piper, their imminent release and impending canola, wheat and pulse prospects prompted the Board to create the CEO position.

“During his time with COGGO, Geoff has managed the set-up of new research investments, negotiation of intellectual property rights and commercialisation of new grain products on behalf of almost 2000 grower members.

“His elevation to CEO empowers him to expedite these processes in the dynamic commercial environment that COGGO has entered in its continued push to release new wheat and canola varieties.

“Executive decisions must be immediate and can’t be delayed to accommodate bi-monthly Board meetings,” Mr Piper said.

A former business administrator who also has 20 years experience in finance, Mr Smith believes growers now acknowledge the financial sense of joining COGGO.

“Members enjoy the first opportunity to purchase new varieties and leverage the agronomic, quality and yield advantages of locally developed crops.

“Realising the value of those opportunities, all non-member growers at recent Kellerberrin and Mingenew field walks joined COGGO,” Mr Smith said.

Demand has been high for GBA’s recently released triple rust resistant wheat varieties, ‘Ruby’, ‘Shenton’ and ‘Sapphire,’ while COGGO will soon allocate seed for new CBWA developed triazine-tolerant canola varieties to members.

CBWA and GBA both have further varietal prospects for release in 2004.