Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, this week visited Birchip Cropping Group along with the Board of the Grains Research and Development Corporation ahead of their Field Days on September 13.
“I have been involved with Birchip Cropping Group in some way shape or form since the late 1990s and have seen this incredible evolution of farming in that time.
“The work that BCG do, not only for our part of the state but for agri-research more broadly means that we now have some of the most innovative food producers in the nation,” said Ms Benham.
GRDC have invested $15 million into the Australian Grains Genebank. Traditionally it has been challenging for researchers to identify desirable genes within national and international genebanks. The new investment will make the plant genetic resources conserved within the AGG more accessible and valuable to the Australian grains industry.
“We can now see a whole new generation of growers coming through, who probably don’t know life on the land without BCG, and nor should they, but we need to do more,’ said Ms Benham.
“I committed to the BCG Nexus project during the election, and I am determined to see it come to fruition, so I will keep working because this will allow the next phase of evolution in Mallee food production.”
Birchip Farmers Andy & Linc, Jade Benham MP, CEO BCG Fiona Best, Chair of GRDC John Woods PHOTO: Demi Taylor
