Earlier this week I attended the inaugural National forum on Farm Co-operatives and Collaboration, with interested farmers and farming groups, farm advisers and people with expertise in co-operatives and other collaborative business models.
An enthusiastic contingent of over 200 people from around Australia attended the event, all on a quest for knowledge about how farming together may create more value for farmers.
A highlight was an address by Jack Wilkinson, a grain grower from Canada and a director of a local Co-op focused on adding value for both consumers and farmers in the isolated rural region he lives in northern Ontario. This is achieved by offering diesel and insurance for locals at a discount while farmers benefit with improved market power through grain marketing.
I have been invited to be part of the Industry Advisory group which includes: Greg McNamara (Norco Co-operative Limited), Melina Morrison (Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals), John Gladigau (Collaborative Ag), Airlie Trescowthick (The Farm Table), Dalene Wray (OBE Organics), Shenal Basnayake (Northern Territory Farmers Association Inc.) and Scott Kompo-Harms (National Farmers’ Federation).
The advisory group will be involved in providing guidance to the farm co-operatives and collaboration pilot program and ensuring it delivers value to the farming communities.
It was very insightful, and powerful learning opportunity, to be sharing a room with these people and discussing the key challenges and opportunities collaborations bring. I highlighted an opportunity around farmers being rewarded for collecting and sharing their data and also the many risk s and challenges this presents.
The feedback is clear: the value proposition has to be clear to the farmer and connectivity, there must be trust around data aggregation and access, and capability to support the implementation will be necessary to facilitate uptake.
Further information on how to get involved in the program, including a livestream from the forum is available at www.farmingtogether.com.au.
