< Previous20 | April 20, 2020 Agriculture emerges as safe haven POTENTIAL: Alterra chief operating and technical officer Brett Heather (left) and Oliver Barnes inspect a young avocado sapling near Pemberton. Photo: Alterra F EAR of COVID-19 and the unprecedented upheaval this has generated across all sectors of the economy have solidified the importance of Western Australia’s agricultural operations, making them per- haps the most essential of all industries. Agribusinesses’ collective abil- ity to withstand a short burst of panic-buying and maintain normal stock levels in shops across the state thankfully pushed food security far down ha CARPENTER’S PROJECT PEMBERTON AVOCADO ORCHARD Institutional investor interest is continuing to grow in WA’s agricultural sector, unaffected by the global uncertainty of the novel coronavirus crisis. the list of concerns arising due to the global health crisis. WA Farmers Federation pres- ident Rhys Turton said while it was fortunate that WA pro- duced more food than its citizens could consume, the state’s supply chains had avoided significant disruption in large part thanks to the establishment last year of the WA Food Alliance. The alliance was originally designed to help the industry gain credibility in its social licence, but Mr Turton said it was particularly helpful to be able to bring together the state’s major players during the COVID- 19 crisis. “It was quite advantageous that the group existed when the coro- navirus hit, because we were able to pull together pretty well and say to the community: ‘We have a great range of food, it is safe and we can get it to you, there is no need to hoard, we can supply what you need when you need it’,” Mr Turton told Business News. “We were also able to pull together a job site for jobseekers and try and match them to pro- spective employers in agriculture. “Because agriculture is always so seasonal, it is inevitably look- ing for a workforce at certain times of the year. At the moment, with the broadacre grain farm- ers kicking off their planting programs and the usual hor- ticulture and fishing demand, Food Alliance was able to match jobseekers with some employers. “Primary production as a whole has pulled together really well through this pandemic and we are reassuring the com- munity that we are here, it is business as usual, we are doing what we do best.” Mr Turton said the perfor- mance of agribusinesses under considerable pressure also high- lighted the sector’s strength of investment potential. He said bulk commodity exports such as wheat and barley were largely continuing as normal, while high-end branded products such as meat and sea- food (see page 22) were taking the most damage. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, WA farmers were collectively confident, displaying a bigger appetite for investment than their eastern states counterparts, according to a Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey released late last year. At the time, Rabobank said 26 per cent of WA farmers surveyed were keen on investing in their farm business in 2020, a higher percentage than any other Aus- tralian state. The market analyst’s first survey for 2020, released in March, displayed similar confi- dence, with a third of farmers expecting conditions to improve on the prior year. Australian farm fundamen- tals have attracted significant investor interest in the past half-decade, highlighted by Gina Rinehart’s estimated $1 billion-plus expansion into agriculture across the country, including the acquisition of five cattle stations in the north of the state. Fellow iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest has also been spending tens of millions on WA agricultural assets, with his Har- vest Road Group evolving into a premium cattle, horticulture and aquaculture operation. More recently, ASX-listed property syndicator Primew- est announced its intentions to broaden its asset base into the agricultural sector, acquiring a vineyard in the South West and an irrigation property near the NSW-Victoria border. 9-PAGE FEATURE FEATURE Agribusiness Dan Wilkie dan.wilkie@businessnews.com.au FEATURE “Just in the last couple of years that return has increased quite significantly,” he said. “I think it’s probably due to higher commodity prices gen- erally, higher grain prices and higher meat prices. “In terms of smaller and medium farmers trying to expand, that has become more difficult, and I think that’s where you’re seeing a decline in smaller farms and the growth of bigger aggregations. “Institutions can get great economies of scale and good returns, and I think it’s attrac- tive in turn for their investors to invest in their funds to put into agriculture. “Agriculture is still subject to seasonal variations and the mas- sive drought on the east coast has had a huge impact for a few years, so it still carries a degree of risk in terms of investment, but it is a calculated risk and sitting behind that is usually a pretty good asset base.” The managing director of investment company Alterra, Oliver Barnes, shared the view that demand for good agricul- tural assets in WA was likely to grow in coming years, contin- uing the long-running theme of increasing quantities of institutional capital looking to participate in the asset class. Mr Barnes said investors sought land or water-backed assets with stable, long-term income streams, but in con- trast to the growing demand there was a shortage of buying opportunities. “In times of crisis like these, people retreat to real assets with strong fundamentals,” Mr Barnes told Business News. growing, packing and exporting firm French’s Group. Known as the Carpenter’s Project, Alterra’s ambition is to create an operation that will ultimately represent about 10 per cent of the total planted hectares of avocado orchards in the state. Mr Barnes said the Carpenter’s orchard was a good indication of Alterra’s business strategy. “What we do is acquire and grow assets to a level where institutions can operate; we are building assets for the next gen- eration,” he said. “Provenance helps, and envi- ronmental impact is something investors are looking for. “We can generate property-like returns with a strong environ- mental, social and governance impact. “WA is similar to what Califor- nia was 30 to 40 years ago, and we can pull in all the learnings and developments from California over that time.” In times of crisis like these, people retreat to real assets with strong fundamentals - Oliver Barnes Alterra There are 62 results from our index of 102,622 articles, 10,137 companies and 38,279 people . com . au “There may be a short-term disruption now, but institu- tional investors generally take a long term outlook – up to 75 years – and there has been a surge of additional activity from sophisticated investors looking to construct a wide and varied portfolio. “They consider it to be a great asset class; if it’s a good asset in a great location with great man- agement, investors will pay a premium for it.” Mr Barnes said institutional capital provided a great boost for rural economies as agricul- ture continued to evolve as an asset class. “There’s a real economic and social uplift from this sort of investment, and it also generates a significant amount of export dollars,” he said. ASX-listed Alterra’s latest ven- ture is to create a 300-hectare avocado orchard in partner- ship with local farming venture Casotti Group and avocado Mr Turton said national and international institutional inves- tors were making major plays as well, with the Saudi Agricul- tural and Livestock Investment Company’s $60 million purchase last year of grain farmer John Nicolletti’s Baladjie aggregation a prominent example. “Farmland as a short- and long-term investment has been tracking pretty well,” he said. “What’s happening is you are seeing an aggregation of farm- land, neighbours are buying neighbours out and are getting bigger, and it’s got to the point where some of those aggrega- tions are becoming attractive to the corporates. “They can do more aggregation and get more economies of scale and extract better value from the land. “So you’re seeing a rise in farm- land from big family farmers buying neighbours and the cor- porates then combining them further.” Mr Turton said it remained difficult to buy into WA agricul- tural assets, which historically had increased in value by around 5 per cent to 7 per cent per year. To secure your place in the business park, or to discover more opportunities, visit developmentwa.com.au/peel Phil Melville (Agribusiness) 0488 203 088 Jarrad Grierson (Industrial) 0413 242 240 Strategically located with good access to major ports, roads and airports, Peel Business Park in Nambeelup caters for agri-food and agri-processing operators, ancillary light, general transport and logistic industries, as well as commercial, retail, training, and R&D facilities. Two lots remain in DevelopmentWA’s Stage 1 which is powered by Australia’s largest Renewable Energy Industrial Microgrid. The Agri-Innovation Precinct in Stage 1 developed by the Shire of Murray is designed for a broad mix of uses including but not limited to: • Science laboratories • Food product research • Cold and dry storage facilities • Offices, co-working spaces and cafés The first phase of Transform Peel, Peel Business Park in Nambeelup sees agriculture, technology and business come together with strong support from Government and Industry. The new look of agri-innovation Artist impression for illustrative purposes only. Supported by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program. DEVW0274 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development22 | April 20, 2020 Casting a line in the COVID crisis RESPONSIBILITY: David Carter says he felt an obligation to the broader community to keep Austral’s boats operating throughout the novel coronavirus crisis. AS many premium food busi- nesses across the country shut up shop due to COVID-19, Aus- tral Fisheries made the contrary decision to send its banana prawn and toothfish fleets out to sea. Austral chief executive David Carter said not only were the risks of exposing his crews to the novel coronavirus outbreak weighing on his mind, there was also considerable doubt as to whether the company would be able to sell its catch when the fleet returned. “We don’t know if there will be a market,” Mr Carter told Busi- ness News. “We went through a process of saying ‘How do we weigh the risk here?’ PROPORTION OF LOBSTER CATCH EXPORTED LIVE TO CHINA The state’s premium fishing operations are scrambling to adapt in an industry that no longer has a clear path to market. “There is a new measure of risk associated with putting people on boats in a fishery, and we had to ask if we needed to be doing it. “I took the view at the time that I think we have kind of a higher calling. “We feel a sense of gratitude to our crews, and businesses that find themselves in this position owe it to the broader economy and the broader community to do what they can.” The biggest challenge in send- ing out the boats, Mr Carter said, was managing a quarantine period for the 180 crew members sent out to operate the 15-boat fleet. Austral’s toothfish fleet oper- ates out of Mauritius, with the fishing crews isolated for 14 days prior to getting onto the boat to ensure none of them were infected. The banana prawn boats are based in Cairns with a similar strategy – isolate crews for the COVID-19 incubation period prior to allowing them to step onto the boats. Mr Carter said the decision to send out 180 crew members and 15 boats, the company’s full banana prawn and tooth- fish fishing fleet, was made not only with the interests of Austral employees in mind, but also to benefit the broader community. “I tell folks that it was like living in a remake of Indiana Jones, with Harrison Ford racing out of some tomb with his booty and the world’s col- lapsing behind him, one trip, one fall, one step short of being engulfed by a raging fire, or a surging flood or a rolling boul- der,” he said. “That’s how it felt; a week’s difference in timing and we would have had a very different outcome. “The better outcome is that these guys get to go to sea, get to make an income, support their families and get to have some kind of normalcy, and Australia gets to have access to some super high-quality marine protein. “That speaks to the broader self-sufficiency of the coun- try that Australian farmers have been pretty effective in reinforcing over the last couple of weeks.” For the Geraldton Fisher- men’s Co-operative, the rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout China’s Hubei Province imme- diately answered the question of whether there would be a market for the western rock lobster catch, Australia’s biggest and most valuable fishery. Unfortunately for the indus- try’s fishers, however, the answer was no, with orders from China grinding to a halt in the last week of January. Co-operative chief executive Matt Rutter said the situation escalated quickly around Chi- nese New Year, which landed on the Australia Day weekend in 2020. “We’d seen news reports out since December around this mystery virus in Wuhan and Dan Wilkie dan.wilkie@businessnews.com.au FEATURE AGRIBUSINESS crisis. Photo: Austral Fisheries Year,” Mr Rutter told Business News. “Towards the Wednesday of that week there was increased nervousness from our buyers and on the Thursday we started to get a smattering of cancellations. “We had to make the decision that night that we were going to have to stop deliveries from our fishers, because the buyers were cancelling orders and we were starting to hear rumours of China basically going into lockdown.” Mr Rutter said at that stage there was still no clear indica- tion that the COVID-19 outbreak was about to become a global issue. “We were thinking how unlucky we were that our main market had gone into lockdown,” he said. “Then three weeks later we started to see some spurts of demand come back, some oppor- tunistic buying from some of our buyers who were buying and storing and had some small interest, and demand for home deliveries and those sorts of things. “But as that was picking up into February, the rest of the world was falling into a hole. “Airlines around the world were being grounded and bor- ders were being shut, and pretty quickly it shifted from a market issue to being a logistics issue.” Mr Rutter said the arrange- ment, with the government underwriting the cost of freight, gave certainty to fishers for at least two months, but fell short of returning the industry to business as usual. “We have to basically take a financial position in a plane before we have got certainty of making sales, so it is a very complex prob- lem so having this government support and just taking the edge off the cost and financial risk for us is a huge help,” Mr Rutter said. “It certainly hasn’t allevi- ated all of the issues and we are still paying a premium for our freight, probably twice what we normally would pay, but it’s better than what it was. “Probably about 30 per cent of the fleet is out at the moment, but we are seeing that gradually increase now. “Even though the prices are not necessarily massive, the fishers are increasingly needing to go out for cash flow and those sorts of things.” The better outcome is that these guys get to go to sea, get to make an income, support their families and get to have some kind of normalcy - David Carter Austral Fisheries There are 33 results from our index of 102,622 articles, 10,137 companies and 38,279 people . com . au Mr Rutter said more than 90 per cent of the western rock lob- ster catch was exported live to China each year, mostly in the cargo hold of passenger flights. Without those flights, options of getting live lobsters to market were few and far between. Mr Rutter said the co-op had been exporting opportunisti- cally since February, getting lobsters on the last passen- ger flights available and also getting freight onto medical supplies flights as they returned to China. Domestically, Mr Rutter said the co-op had been facilitating home deliveries for household consumption, with the country’s restaurant sector shut down and unable to take up the volumes of lobsters available. A federal government initiative to boost the industry was unveiled last week, facilitating the export of 500 tonnes of lobsters to China, or around 7.5 per cent of a typical annual catch. then we started to see the press around it increase during the week leading up to Chinese New AGRIBUSINESS FEATURE To discuss your fi nancial future, speak to one of our Agribusiness specialists, simply call (08) 9322 3400 Email:perth@ppacc.com.au Whether you are setting up a new business, growing an existing one, fi nancing equipment or looking to build wealth for your family’s future, Pascoe Partners Accountants have the expertise and experience to help. Our professionals will listen to your needs, consider your circumstances and then advise on the best options for you. Guiding you through the process to help you reach your goals. With Offi ces in Perth and Moora, see our website to fi nd out more : www.pascoepartnersaccountants.com.au KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCE RESULTS • Our Business advisory team can help you grow your business and gain clearer insights & better opportunities resulting in reduced stress and the building of wealth. We can help to minimise your tax and maximise the benefi ts available to you – well ahead of deadlines. • We can help you secure fi nance for business or personal needs such as a mortgage or for plant & equipment. • We develop tax-effective succession plans and self-managed superannuation arrangements to help you and your family prosper. Credit Representative Number 486552 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 389328Backed by science The Field Research program which forms the basis of CSBP’s scientific approach to soil and nutrition, continues to be as important today as it was when it commenced in 1923. Changing farming practices, improved varieties and new crop species mean CSBP is constantly testing and validating new products and practices to help growers continue to produce the high-quality food and fibre Australia is known for. Trials establish nutritional drivers, demonstrate the importance of balanced nutrition, and show the impact fertiliser usage can have on crop and pasture profitability. For customers and partners this means best practice and environmentally sound advice, proven high-quality products and locally developed and tested nutritional management solutions. CSBP’s trials database contains over 2,000 trials and covers a range of topics. Using state-of-the-art trial equipment and the latest Agtech, allows CSBP to investigate challenging topics in a range of soil conditions and geographical locations. Taking field research to the North West – A collaboration in Pardoo Collaborating in the design and delivery of trials programs often leads to the development of more efficient products and fertiliser solutions that are practical, sustainable and easy to adopt. One such collaboration with Pardoo Beef Corporation resulted in a pioneering nutrient response trial in north west WA which has uncovered optimal fertiliser use for profitable and sustainable fodder production in low-rainfall areas. “We’re finding out amazing things about optimal fertiliser use, productivity and profitability, as well as the long-term sustainability of using this method of farming in low-rainfall areas,” said Garan Peirce, CSBP District Manager and Agronomist. The CSBP soil and plant testing model for tropical grasses is based on 5,000 data points established throughout the trial, giving irrigators a quality-assured system for maintaining and improving productivity. “We want to make sure that everyone is profitable and that they are growing their cattle as quickly as possible to get them to market,” said Craig Burton, CSBP Sales Manager. Pardoo Station and neighbouring irrigation projects have since adopted the strategy, significantly increasing their production, profitability and sustainability. Agtech innovation CSBP’s dedicated innovation team focuses on developing new products and services that have the potential to solve key challenges facing the industry. “We believe innovation is key to developing environmentally sustainable products and new AgTech services, and generating growth and employment in our regional communities,” - Graham Murray, CSBP Agtech Services Lead. Existing and current data as well as existing modelling techniques and machine learning is used to develop a range of testing models that support on farm management decisions that extend beyond the traditional nutrient requirement factors which influence the effective use of CSBP products. Tank telemetry For many, agriculture has become a major logistics operation, and making sure the right product, equipment and staff are in the right place at the right time has its challenges. In a bid to alleviate this problem, CSBP is in its second season piloting a semi-automated system across the state aimed at improving Flexi-N management and supply using Telstra’s Internet of Things (IoT) tank sensors. Pasture measurement CSBP is comparing traditional pasture measurement methods such as plate cuts and mowers to newer technologies such as drones which use Normalised Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) imagery to calculate dry matter; and an Automatic Pasture Reader, which is a device mounted to the front of an ATV that uses ultrasonic pulses to measure biomass and convert it to dry matter. LEADERS IN AG INNOVATION For more than 100 years, CSBP Fertilisers has been supporting the development of Western Australian growers and rural communities with a commitment to discovering new and better ways of doing things. The company has been conducting research and replicated field trials since 1923, to better understand the state’s conditions, soils, and fertiliser needs. This long tradition of field research has seen it provide agronomic expertise and strictly facts-based nutritional advice to five generations of WA growers.Weather stations On-farm weather stations have the potential to provide farmers with more accurate and relevant information to make decisions on a range of farming operations such as spraying and fertiliser applications. A station using Telstra’s IoT technology was showcased at last year’s Dowerin Field Days and can capture temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction, solar radiation and rainfall and display these to the grower in real time. CSBP’s Field Research Manager Justin Mercy, said Telstra’s environmental sensor was the key to providing a compact solution. “There are so many data collecting devices available on the market and it can be very overwhelming for a grower, particularly if the data is scattered over numerous platforms. This device allows data from a number of devices to be consolidated into one platform which can be easily accessed,” he said. “The next phase is to refine this data so it can be presented to the grower in a meaningful way to increase the efficiencies of their farming practices. CSBP is currently working on a number of projects to combine both the hardware and networking power of the Captis Environmental Logger with decision making models that will make the data useful for the grower.” In-field, real-time plant testing Following grower feedback on the need for real-time nutrient status insights, especially nitrogen, CSBP will pilot a hand-held near-infrared spectrometer for in-field, real-time plant testing this year, after extensive field testing across WA and the East Coast. Having this information on-hand reduces uncertainty of nitrogen application and allows growers to align fertiliser applications with seasonal conditions, upcoming rainfall events and other activities like fungicide spraying. The device eliminates the need to upload large quantities of data to the cloud or complicated software to process imagery. CSBP has been conducting extensive field trials and lab testing to evaluate various technologies. This in turn reduces the need for growers to spend as much time and effort dealing with a broad range of technologies and Agtech companies to find the one that works as intended. “We have sought grower feedback on the outputs from the solution developed to date and will continue to do so to ensure that it will help growers optimise their economic potential from fertiliser applications,” said Douglas Hamilton, Senior Digital Agricultural Specialist. “It’s not about trying to make a problem fit a generic solution, or using tech for tech’s sake. This project is about understanding a problem growers face, evaluating the current options and building a fit for purpose solution that doesn’t complicate farming operations.” Making the most of on-farm data CSBP’s expanding suite of nutritional planning and management tools such as DecipherAg and NUlogic assist growers in increasing their yield, optimising their profit and ensuring the sustainability of their businesses throughout the year. DecipherAg provides powerful functionality and insights, identifying paddock variability using satellite imagery, NDVI and Normalised Difference Red Edge (NDRE). It allows growers to monitor production throughout the year, compare growth performance, track trends and organise information. Pre-planned or ad-hock sample geo-coordinates can be recorded against sample information and lodged for analysis on the mobile app. The app also allows the user to view notes, NDVI satellite imagery and more. NUlogic Soil and Plant Analysis provides practical information that growers can use to manage farm nutrition. Combining decades of trials data and local knowledge, it provides a comprehensive agronomic and economic analysis of nutrient levels and fertiliser recommendations matched to soil type, crop type and target yields, helping growers maximise nutrient efficiency. CSBP’s recently launched Research and Agronomy website showcases its field research from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. CSBP RESEARCH RESULTS WEBSITE Easily accessible on any device, growers can view relevant trial information while in the paddock throughout the growing season, allowing for more informed, effective and timely nutrient decisions. Sharing results online in a user-friendly way, instead of traditional print and distribution, is not only beneficial for growers but leads to increased collaboration with universities, government organisations, research institutes, peer companies and industry partners to push the boundaries of agronomy and shape the future of agriculture. CSBP Senior Agronomist, Luke Dawson added, “We’ve been part of the agricultural industry for well over 100 years, and to continue to add value to the industry, sharing research in a collaborative way means we will get better, more varied feedback that will help us continue to improve our research. Being part of a good, sustainable industry – it’s about giving back but also improving the industry.” csbpresults.com.au You can explore CSBP’s research results at 26 | April 20, 2020 FEATURE AGRIBUSINESS FLUX: Many jobs in WA’s food production chains, from picking to packing, are filled by temporary overseas workers. Photo: Attila Csaszar Food producers’ labour squeeze SECURING workers has become a major concern for food producers across Western Australia, with restrictions on movement and border closures affecting their ability to find temporary staff. International travellers make up the bulk of a highly mobile and transitional agricultural workforce in WA, and with borders shut and regional travel locked down, concerns are rising that labour may not be readily available over the next 12 months. Earlier this month, the federal govern- ment made several temporary changes to its agricultural visa programs, allow- ing farm-based backpackers to remain in Australia for the duration of the pandemic. The changes, applying to the Sea- sonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme workers, included an exemption from a previous require- ment that backpackers only work with an individual employer for six months, allowing for stays to be extended for up to 12 months. Even with those changes, Western Australian Farmers Federation chief executive Trevor Whittington told a the safety of their health and delay returning to their countries due to dire COVID-19 situations. “Given that rigid travel restrictions and social distancing requirements may be in place for at least six months, impacting small businesses, tourism and the ability for food producers to be able to source workers required to harvest winter crops, it is essential that as a region and a town we plan to remain as sustainable as pos- sible within the realms of what we have today in terms of resources.” Mr Catania urged the federal govern- ment to consider extending all visas to include an ability to work in other industries until seasonal work became available, and to evaluate the possibility of subsidies for those who provide accom- modation for backpackers experiencing financial stress while waiting for job opportunities. Unable to travel within WA, many [backpackers] are not in a position to be able to return to their home countries - Vince Catania recent Business News leadership round- table it was becoming difficult to source skilled workers in particular. “For most of our guys who may now want to find labour, there has been a mad scramble when their New Zealanders or their regular overseas skilled tractor drivers have not been able to come in,” Mr Whittington said. “So people have been racing around to find some replacement labour.” Mr Whittington said he expected around 20,000 positions would need to be filled over the next year in WA horticulture. “Some of them will be hard to fill because the Asian kids who usually would come in for the English language courses aren’t here,” he said. Member for North West Central Vince Catania acknowledged the importance of the temporary changes, but said he remained concerned in regards to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s early April statement that backpackers without a job should go home. Mr Catania said he was particularly worried by the prospect there may not be a workforce available for WA food pro- ducers in around six to eight weeks’ time. “Recent regional border closures pre- venting travel has resulted in a number of international backpackers being in Car- narvon and other regional towns without work for the next few weeks and with limited funds,” he said. “Unable to travel within WA, many are not in a position to be able to return to their home countries due to limited or no flight availability, or a need to preserve Dan Wilkie dan.wilkie@businessnews.com.au www.bailiwicklegal.com.au Agribusiness | Tourism | Business & Property | Commercial Succession & Estates | Dispute Resolution | Litigation | Workplace & EmploymentImproving the potential of WA’s nutrient- depleted soils has been a career-defining passion for John Howieson. AGRIBUSINESS FEATURE 27 | April 20, 2020 MONEY: John Howieson says accessing timely funding is often a problem for ag researchers. WHAT if a crop could make infer- tile soils productive and then finish as a nutrient-rich, profita- ble feeding option for livestock? For many farmers across Western Australia, such a crop would be a valuable addition to their business toolkit, which is one reason John Howieson has spent the better part of 25 years researching such a cultivar. Professor Howieson, from Murdoch University’s Centre for Rhizobium Studies, has spent much of his career focused on identifying ways to enrich the sandy, infertile soils of the Wheat- belt. At other times his work has taken him to Africa (on the behalf of the Bill Gates Foundation) and Christmas Island. Central to his research has been the microbial relationships that determine whether crops fail or thrive, and Professor Howieson has been influential in leading some significant developments. The foundation of Professor Howieson’s research is harness- ing control of the relationship between rhizobium (root nodule bacteria) and flowering pants such as legumes. After testing thousands of varieties and combinations of rhizobium and legume, Professor Howieson discovered rhizobial symbiosis could occur with a peculiar breed of wild South Afri- can legume genus called Lebeckia. The resulting rhizobial nitrogen fixation (emission of naturally produced nitrogen into the soil) was so successful that trials began across various Wheatbelt could also benefit from the rhi- zome research, albeit with the right investment from govern- ment and business. “We could produce a Leb- eckia-type feedbase for the rangelands but we need addi- tional funding of $1 million for that pursuit. I know which plants would do the job,” Professor How- ieson said. Funding Professor Howieson told Business News the current four-year funding cycles were an impediment to progress, suggesting funding and research structures actually slowed the rate of scientific advancement in WA. locations about a decade ago, and CSIRO modelling was undertaken. What eventuated next was part luck and part design: not only did the Lebeckia legume increase the soil’s fertility, it proved to be a value-adding feedstock for sheep. CSIRO modelling on the effectiveness of the Lebeckia and serradella legume varieties assessed that sheep farmers could be up to $400 per hectare better off, with animals’ weight increase being a key factor. Prior to industrially pro- duced nitrogen fertilisers, WA was plagued by inconsist- ent, unreliable yields due to poor soil and harsh climate. Even with synthetic fertil- isers becoming available, their expense meant profitability was often an issue. The other downside to syn- thetic fertilisers is that their manufacture requires produc- tion of a significant amount of greenhouse gasses. Hence, a nat- ural alternative has always been preferable. Therefore, the ability to com- bine soil-regeneration and feedstock expenses into one activ- ity was a welcome development. While some farmers have been quick to adopt Lebeckia and ser- radella, others have been less enthusiastic. “It’s a combination of them being too busy and too risk averse,” Professor Howieson told Business News. “But that’s okay; we’ve had about 5 million hectares adopted in WA over the past 25 years and more will come.” Not content to limit the scope of his research to the Wheatbelt, Professor Howieson remains optimistic his work has the capacity to extend into other regions indefinitely. “Our work on Lebeckia was so blue sky that no-one would originally fund it. So we did it in our spare time and with our stu- dents,” he said. Other regions such as the Kimberley or Pilbara, or over the border in the Northern Territory “Here in WA we are undoubt- edly the world leaders in rhizobium studies,” he said. “However, a dedicated, inde- pendent institute would help in fast-tracking what is essentially a lifelong game.” “Our agriculture minister [Alan- nah MacTiernan] is actually very receptive of the importance of our work here at Murdoch and she is one person who could defi- nitely take the lead here.” Professor Howieson’s other endeavours include the regen- eration of Christmas Island’s phosphorous-overloaded interi- ors, where he has overseen teams turning old phosphate mines into rich, crop-producing groves. Presently, there’s great yield potential with dozens of staple crop varieties all growing well in pastures that have been laden with a specially curated rhizome. The findings are well timed to aid in transitioning the local econ- omy to an agribusiness focus and leader in sub-tropical farming. A dedicated, independent institute would help in fast-tracking what is essentially a lifelong game - John Howieson Lifelong pursuit of productivity Murdoch University There are 971 results from our index of 102,622 articles, 10,137 companies and 38,279 people . com . au Ben Pattison ben.pattison@businessnews.com.auFEATURE AGRIBUSINESS 28 | April 20, 2020 RankChangeCompanySenior WA executive and title Year est. in WA Total staff in WABalance date WA Revenue ($m)Core business 1 — CBH Group Mr Jimmy Wilson Chief Executive 19221,10030-Sep-19 4,189.6 Grain storage, handling and marketing co-operative 2 —Glencore Mr Rob Haddrill Grain Merchant 31-Oct-18 910.0 Grain export 3 —KB Food Mr Shenshen Li Chief Financial Officer 201634731-Dec-18 613.8 Seafood production and processing, and food services 4 —Plum Grove Mr Andrew Young Executive Chair 20036031-Oct-18 493.0 Transporting, accumulating, storing, grading, handling, containerising, exporting and trading grain 5 Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative Mr Matt Rutter Chief Executive 195025630-Jun-19 350.7 Western rock lobster processing and marketing co-operative 6 Harvest Road Group Mr Greg Harvey Chief Executive 191953630-Jun-19 343.7 Pilbara cattle stations, abattoir in Harvey, brands include Harvey Beef 7 WAMMCO Mr Coll MacRury Chief Executive 197136030-Jun-19 330.9 Lamb processing and marketing co-operative 8 Galati Group Mr Frank Galati Chief Executive 20111,15430-Jun-19 324.7 Grows and sells vegetables, fruit, eggs and cattle 9 Craig Mostyn Group Mr Patrick Walsh Chief Executive 192349530-Jun-19 308.1 Pork, seafood and rendered products. Brands include Linley Valley Pork 10 Emerald Grain 200531-Oct-18 280.0 Grain and oil seed export 11 Wellard Mr John Klepec Executive Chair 19799030-Jun-19 235.3 Livestock exporter; shipping charter; chilled meat exporter 12 International Livestock Export Mr Michael Stanton Managing Director 1989830-Jun-19 226.5 Livestock export 13 Cargill 30-Sep-18 210.0 Grain export 14 Milne Agrigroup Mr Graham Laitt Managing Director 191030730-Jun-19 183.0 Manufactures livestock feed, and owns meat and poultry farms. Brands include Plantagenet Pork and Mt Barker Chicken 15 AAA Egg Company Mr Peter Bell Managing Director 30030-Jun-18 162.4 Owns egg producers and processors Golden Egg Farms (100%) and Farm Pride Foods (49.8%), Welshpool chicken feed producer Nufeeds 16 Western Meat Packers Mr Andrew Fuda Chief Executive 198336030-Jun-17 150.0 Abattoir in Margaret River, cold store and production facility in Osborne Park 17 WA Plantation Resources Mr Yoshi Shimoda Managing Director 19698731-Dec-18 138.3 Exports around 1 million tonnes of woodchips to Japan every year and manages thousands of hectares of sustainable bluegum plantations across the South West of WA 18 Austral Fisheries Mr David Carter Chief Executive 19813531-Dec-18 133.3 Deep sea fishing to catch Patagonian Toothfish and Mackerel Icefish; 10 prawn trawlers off northern Australia; and its Seafood Solutions division which specialises in sourcing and marketing of quality sustainable seafood Ranked by WA Revenue . com . au WA’s LARGEST AGRIBUSINESS COMPANIES All information compiled using surveys, publicly available data and contact with industry sources. Other companies may be eligible for inclusion. If you believe your company is eligible, please email: claire.byl@businessnews.com.au WND: Would Not Disclose, NFP: Not For Publication, N/A: Not Applicable or Not Available. 19 9520 April 2020 | businessnews.com.au Partners Industry takes action P34 Thinking regionally P36 Researchers accelerate P38 GREATSTATEfor the WA healthcare is preparing for COVID-19 How P31 Registered nurse Michelle Brown will be on the frontline in WA’s pandemic fight. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira 12-PAGE FEATURE SERIES 2 – EDITION 3Next >