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Speech by laurie Arthur, President, Ricegrowers' Association of Australia Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to be a rice grower and choose to grow rice for three very important reasons. Firstly, I grow rice because of the financial return that the rice industry brings to my farm and family. I credit my prosperity, gained through my 24 years of farming to rice. Secondly, I know that I own the industry from paddock to plate. The rice industry in Australia is a vertically integrated business and is wholly owned by 2000 rice farmers and lastly, I know that I am growing a food that feeds up to 40 million people around the world each day. Our major achievements in the areas of efficiency and productivity within the rice industry have been highlighted this evening. This could not have been done without industry investment into research and development to the tune of $18 million per year and the use of the latest technology and innovation. Last year alone, the industry achieved record yields – never before seen in the history of rice growing in the world. Our Australian rice industry is recognised internationally as the most efficient. Our investment in R&D and our subsequent achievements are vital for rice to maintain its place in the Australian landscape. Our Australian rice industry is committed to environmental improvement. Our internal research revealed that the primary driver for Australian rice farmers is to leave a farm legacy for future generations. Rice farmers live this legacy each day. There are little things farmers do to improve the environment in which they live, like fencing off native vegetation, planting trees and recycling our precious water. Then there is a big picture approach where the whole industry has committed to achieving national environmental objectives. The rice industry is the only agricultural industry to have Biodiversity Strategy and Plan and a Greenhouse strategy. The industry has also developed the Environmental Champions Program in partnership with the Commonwealth Government. This is a program designed to demonstrate the industry’s environmental leadership. This year is our chance to truly demonstrate how the Australian rice industry in an integral part of Australian agriculture and to preserve the environment for the thousands of people for whom ‘Rice is Life’. With the wealth of technology available to us we will continue to set new benchmarks for rice production globally. I would like to thank our sponsors for making this event possible. SunRice, the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production and Deni Freighters. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson and Minister Warren Truss for their leadership in the NWI. Without their hard work and cooperative relationship with NSW Minister Craig Knowles, the progress we have seen to date would not have been possible. Thank you |
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE |
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