THE Australian Grains Industry Conference is turning 25 this year, and celebrating the milestone with a program set to deliver insights into the current market, and a look at what is on the horizon in terms of pricing, research and domestic and foreign policy.

With Every grain has a silver lining as the theme, it is being held at Melbourne’s Crown Promenade on July 31 and August 1, and provides the ideal forum for domestic participants and international visitors to learn and network.

Grain Trade Australia and the Australian Oilseeds Federation are the event hosts, and GTA chief executive officer Pat O’Shannassy said the program always looks to change with the times, and see the “silver lining”, even amid what can sometimes be challenging seasons and market conditions.

“Since AGIC started in 1999, we’ve had our share of droughts, wet years, and market-access issues, but there are always opportunities for us to learn from each other, and from the insights our speakers bring,” Mr O’Shannassy said.

“We also aim to make the event a place to network, both in the sessions, and at social events around them, and we’re hoping for record attendance this year, including delegations from Indonesia, China and customers from around the world.”

Demand, competition in focus

Heading up insights into global grain and oilseed markets at AGIC 2024 will be presentations from Dr Rory Deverell, producer and distributer of the esteemed Fryer’s Reports, and Ukraine-based Masha Belikova of FastMarkets AgriCensus on the Black Sea grain situation.

On the demand side, S&P Global Commodity Insights principal economist head of Asia-Pacific crops Vladimir Zinkovski will look at China’s appetite for feed now that it has returned as a volume buyer of Australian barley as well as wheat.

AGIC’s exhibits area show the latest on offer from manufacturers and service providers, and provide a valuable networking opportunity. Photo: AGIC 2023

On the home front, Ingham’s general manager commodities Matt Clarke will share insights from one of Australia’s biggest consumers of grain and protein meals as used for poultry feed,

A session entitled The Silver Lining – The Carbon Transition: Bioenergy and Other Opportunities will be previewed early next month on Grain Central.

It will involve a panel discussion with HFW partner and climate change and nature law specialist Ruth Dawes, Cargill Asia-Pacific environmental markets and sustainability director Ben Fargher, and Bioenergy Australia CEO Shahana McKenzie.

“From the grower to the exporter, there’s a lot going on in the carbon space, and the panel we’ve put together will be shedding some light on what that means throughout the supply chain.”

Other AGIC 2024 speakers include:

• Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry secretary Adam Fennessy;
• Woodside Energy, Qantas Airways and AFL Commission chair and former head of Wesfarmers Richard Goyder;
• Federal Member for Page and Shadow Minister for Trade Kevin Hogan;
• Cricketing great and McGrath Foundation co-founder Glenn McGrath;
• CBH head of grain technology Craig McLure;
• Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University Professor Rory Medcalf;
• DP World Oceania executive vice president Nicolaj Noes;
• Australian Research Council Centre for Future Crops director Barry Pogson;
• Executive chair of consulting firm Pyne and Partners and former Coalition Government cabinet minister Christopher Pyne;
• GrainCorp managing director and CEO Robert Spurway;
• Port of Melbourne head of business development Leatrice Treharne;
• DDT Holdings senior commodity manager Kurt Wilkinson;

Exhibitors will also be at the venue, with representatives from industry on hand to discuss the latest in products and services that support the standards for which Australian grain is renowned.

Registration for AGIC 2024 is open now, with earlybird rates available until July 5; a number of registrations at discounted rates are available to growers thanks to support from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

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