Tangible Benefits for Australian Farmers from Country of Origin Labelling

Country of Origin Labeling (CoOL) in Australia is long overdue. The link below gives more insight into the Government's proposed new CoOL scheme:

http://www.industry.gov.au/industry/IndustrySectors/FoodManufacturingIndustry/Pages/Country-of-Origin-Labelling.aspx


As a consumer I am tired of combing the back of packets to determine where the food is made, if it is an Australian product and whether the company is Australian owned. I simply want to be able to make an informed decision at the grocery store as to what food I put on my family's table, and this I imagine applies to most Australian families from across all income ranges, no matter their budgetary restraints. 

The new CoOL scheme offers much more information at a glance than currently exists. There is still however, more room for improvement, especially to name the country from where the imported food has originated, every time, not just when companies might like to comply. It is pleasing that foreign owned companies like Simplot who invest greatly in Australian vegetable growers will eligible to show a 100% Australian grown label. 

BUT what is the tangible benefit that will flow back to our Australian farmer? As the proposed CoOL scheme stands there will be no benefit to our farmers. The consumer will benefit, but is demand really going to drive up an increase in seasonally produced foods? Will the Australian wheat grower experience a marked rise in price for their product or the Australian livestock farmer find an increase in farm gate prices? Will the Australian fruit grower experience increased demand for their fruit? No. There will be no significant change.

With careful thought, industry consultation and proactive efforts, we can make a difference for our farmers. Effective and positive changes can be made in the following areas:

1. Tangible benefits for our Australian farmers through uniting under a single easily identifiable label.

These benefits would entail less regulation and interference from government, activists and consumers, ultimately decreasing red and green tape costs.

2. Greater consumer awareness of the standards and assurance programs under which our Australian farmers operate to produce some of the healthiest food (and fibre) in the worlds.

Our consumers trust Australian farmers, but need to grow a greater understanding of why. This should cross over from the domestic market place to our international consumers in export destinations.

3. Unifying Australian agriculture under a single label.

Many agricultural industries have tried individually to make a difference in this space. As a unified industry, the strength of our position would be magnified greatly. 

These changes can occur without reinventing the wheel, without huge costs to implement and most importantly, with great costs or imposition to our farmers. 

Are you interested to find out more?

November this year (2015) will see the Vice Chair (Andrew Blenkiron) of the Red Tractor Assured Food Scheme (UK) visit Australia. He will be key note speaker at a forum in Roma, Queensland, along with a tour of the Maranoa area and farms, before travelling to Canberra to attend additional engagements.

The link below gives more information about the Red Tractor UK:

http://www.redtractor.org.uk/

We can learn much from the Red Tractor experience. We can adapt and grow something that can operate in our Australian agricultural industries effectively. We can grow consumer awareness and understanding.

If you are wanting to make a proactive change that will deliver tangible benefits please get in touch.

This is our biggest opportunity to make an effective difference, but we need to get it right.

Test Driving The Path To Solutions

As I read through the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper I am pleased to see Australian agriculture finally receiving some long awaited attention. Having been relegated to the “too hard” or “not vital” basket for some time it is heartening to see the Government attempt to tackle the numerous problems unique to Australian Agriculture.

Do I believe this is the magic pill to address the great variety of issues facing all of our Australian agricultural industries? No. But it is a start and I hope it is a foundation on which we can build and improve the outlook for Australian farmers and the industries that support and depend on them.

Our politicians are trying to listen and while it is easy as farmers to identify all the problems that we face on a day to day basis, it is necessary to be able to provide thoughtful solutions. Think about one problem you face in your agricultural business or local community and how that problem could be alleviated or reduced given improved governance or policies. If we as farmers cannot find solutions to our problems, how can we expect people with little experience in agriculture and even less at operating a farming business, to come up with workable, effective and practical solutions?

We have the solutions within our agricultural ranks. We can make a difference. Stand up and be counted and make a difference. Inaction will see nothing change and the struggle to improve profitability at the farm gate will become increasing hard.

Do you have a solution to a problem (big or small)? Choose a champion for your solution, be it a State Farming Organisation, Industry Body, political party or local politician. Start conversations within your industry to see if the solution can be refined or improved. There will always be critics and those with a negative response, but study them further and ask what produced that response. They may simply be the wrong vehicle to carry your solution forward.

Ultimately any effective changes to agricultural policies must happen in a bipartisan manner and be implemented for the long term. Investment in agriculture is long term and it needs long term, consistent policies that reach across the political divide and changing governments.  Healthy and robust debate across the political spectrum can be (and should be) constructive and result in improved solutions, especially when combined with industry consultation and farm gate conversations.

Australian agriculture has many eyes focused on it and ears listening right now…….possibly more than ever before. Let’s get this right.

And remember if the vehicle you chose is not responding, it may be time to trade it in and try a different track.  The key though is to firstly give the chosen vehicle a chance.