Farm Tender

Could Co-operative Farming Future Proof Australian Farmers?

By Co-Operative Farming

There has never been a more important time to come together and explore ways to protect Australia’s farming businesses and communities, and the huge contribution they make to supply, biosecurity and the economy. Farmers and other primary producers are known for their resilience, but in the last few years they have faced unprecedented business challenges: natural disasters, drought, fires, floods, COVID-19, issues highlighted in the Banking Royal Commission, navigating geopolitical trade disruptions, or the problem of raising working capital without ‘selling the farm’.

Co-operative farming is seen as one model that can assist, giving farmers competitive advantage and market power by scaling, collaborating and innovating.

Hosted by renowned agricultural journalist Pete Lewis, the candid conversation begins with co-op leaders, agricultural experts and primary producers from Australia and overseas debating and discussing the future of farming and if the co-operative model could be an option to future proof our home-grown agribusinesses.

What are the situations where co-operatives work and what does it take to make them succeed? Where, when and why do they fail? Hear the nation’s best agricultural experts debunk some myths about co-operative farming. And find out more about the government’s $2.5 million Starting New Farm Co-operatives program.

Hosted by Pete Lewis and with opening remarks from Hon David Littleproud MP the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management.

Our expert discussion panel comprises of:

Dr Michael Cook: University of Missouri

Kevin Franey TNR Chartered Accountants

Melina Morrison CEO BCCM

Emma Thomas CEO Achmea

Emma Robinson Beef Collaboration Project Inc

Fiona Simson – President National Farmers Federation

Jimmy Wilson CEO CBH Group

Register here

https://conversations.coopfarming.coop/