PA-FEBMAR2017

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Geoff Moar
Chairman
AUSVEG
James Whiteside
CEO
AUSVEG
It is with great pleasure that we welcome James Whiteside as
AUSVEG CEO.
James brings a vast level of local and global agribusiness
expertise to the industry, having worked for Incitec Pivot for 23
years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Incitec Pivot
Fertilisers. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of Quantum
Fertilisers, a Hong Kong-based international fertiliser trading
company, and is currently Chairman of Verdant Minerals
Limited and a director for Agribusiness Australia.
I am confident that James will lead AUSVEG into the future
and ensure we continue to effectively fulfil our role as the
national representative for vegetable and potato growers.
I would like to pay tribute to former Interim CEO Simon
Bolles, who has acted with astute diligence and professionalism
during his time in the role. Simon returned to the AUSVEG
Board as a Skills-based Director on 1 February 2017, and we
are grateful that he has continued to bring his extensive
knowledge of business and corporate finance to the table.
2017 is sure to be a busy year for the potato industry, with
the implementation of several new levy-funded R&D projects
that are set to benefit potato growers.
This coincides with the development of the next Strategic
Investment Plans for the fresh and processed potato industries,
which is overseen by Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort
Innovation) and aims to determine the key areas of levy
investment over the next five years.
Many of you may know Hort Innovation Relationship
Manager Christian Patterson, who meets with growers regularly
throughout Australia and works closely with the fresh and
processed potato industry Strategic Investment Advisory Panels
(SIAPs). These panels provide a voice for the greater industry
and offer advice on the key areas of investment in
the potato industry.
Growers play an integral role in this process and AUSVEG
strongly encourages readers to provide feedback and ideas
to Christian to support the industry in its growth and ensure its
long-term viability. More information can be found on page 13.
In other exciting news for the potato industry, we are pleased
to announce Potatoes South Australia will co-host Hort
Connections 2017, a joint initiative between AUSVEG and PMA
Australia-New Zealand Limited (PMA A-NZ), which will be held
at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 15-17 May.
To kick off the event on Monday 15 May, Potatoes South
Australia will join other potato industry partners to support Arris
Pty Ltd in the launch of the Potato Industry Extension Forum
and Industry Luncheon. This is a unique and highly valuable
opportunity for potato growers throughout Australia to meet,
network and discuss key issues of importance to their industry.
AUSVEG hopes this will encourage more growers and
industry members to attend the Forum and benefit from the
great work of the Potato Industry Extension Program.
I would like to introduce myself as the Chief Executive Officer
of AUSVEG in what is an exciting time for the Australian
vegetable and potato industry.
I have always worked in the agricultural industry, since
graduating from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor
of Agricultural Science. My career has been in the corporate
sector, the last 23 years with fertiliser manufacturer and
distributor Incitec Pivot Limited. I was Chief Operating Officer
of Incitec Pivot Fertilisers until December 2015. I accepted
this role in December 2016, and am really looking forward to
working with Australia’s innovative and committed vegetable
and potato growers to create a successful and profitable
future for the industry.
In this edition of Potatoes Australia, I have outlined my
personal vision for AUSVEG, our plans for a revamped business
strategy and my message for Australia’s potato growers.
I will endeavour to do my best to communicate with
growers, and I also look forward to hearing constructive
feedback in regards to AUSVEG’s activities and how we can
effectively fulfil our role as your national representative body.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing an
effective and representative voice on behalf of the vegetable
and potato industry, AUSVEG recently conducted a Public
Affairs survey which asked growers about their key areas of
concern for the coming year.
The survey considered important issues such as labour,
water usage and business costs. The results allowed AUSVEG
to gain a clearer understanding of the key issues affecting the
industry at present, and will shape how we advocate on the
industry’s behalf this year and into the future.
In other news, we are excited to welcome Fresh Markets
Australia (FMA) and the Central Markets Association of Australia
(CMAA) – which together represent Australia’s fresh produce
markets and their wholesalers – as official trade show sponsors
and co-hosts of Hort Connections 2017.
FMA and CMAA join Potatoes South Australia and Growcom
as the latest industry bodies to sign on as co-hosts of Hort
Connections 2017. This event is a joint initiative by AUSVEG
and PMA Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ) and is supported
by Irrigation Australia, Australian Organic and Onions Australia.
Hort Connections is quickly shaping up to be the premier
event in Australian horticulture and will bring together
the largest number of growers, supply chain members,
government stakeholders and industry service providers in
the Australian horticulture industry to the Adelaide Convention
Centre from 15-17 May.
I am particularly looking forward to meeting growers and
industry members over three days of networking opportunities.
Readers can turn to page eight of Potatoes Australia for the
latest information on Hort Connections and for further details
on how to register for the event.
| MESSAGES FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO |
Knowledge grows
Our dry applied products, YaraLiva Tropicote and YaraLiva Nitrabor,
are water soluble and utilise Yara’s highly efficient coating system
which ensures free flowing accurate application while substantially
reducing water absorption during storage and spreading,
minimising caking and dust.
When spreading, the hard granular formulation ensures minimal
particle breakdown and even application across the growing area.
Once in the soil they are fast dissolving and fast-acting, ensuring
growth is not compromised.
For more information visit or
contact your local sales agronomist.
They Deserve the Best!
Yara Liva® field grade fertilisers are the key
to high value, highly marketable produce.
They provide fast acting nitrate-N,
alongside strength building calcium.
*Both products are available in
25kg & 1.2mt bags