Grains SA chief Caroline Rhodes’ new plan for industry
Grains SA’s new chief is working on a plan to grow industry.
SA Business
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SOUTH Australia’s new grain producers chief is pulling together a five-point working plan that includes investigating ways to draw more young farmers and women into industry decision making.
Caroline Rhodes will explore options in an organisational review that also creates a new strategic plan for Grain Producers SA, after being appointed as its new chief executive replacing Darren Arney.
“The grains industry contributes $2.5 billion to the South Australian economy and has huge potential to increase its profitability for the benefit of the whole state,” Ms Rhodes said.
Among Ms Rhodes key focuses in upcoming months are leading industry development, renewing focus on biosecurity, trade and access issues for grain farmers, research and development, supply chain and rural affairs like on-farm viability and the existing mining act review.
The new Liberal State Government was showing strong support for the industry, according to Ms Rhodes, including a renewed approach to the current mining review.
“I had a conversation with the new (energy and mining) minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan who made a strong commitment to work with groups such as GPSA to address land access issues in relation to mining and how it might impact farmers,” she said.
Another key focus will be the GM debate, after the State Government indicated it would review an extended moratorium announced by the former government on genetically modified crops being planted, with grain producers critical of the decision.
Ms Rhodes comes well-equipped for the job, with board roles on SA Grain Industry Trust, Rural Business Support, Foodbank SA and the SA Cricket Association.
She also previously worked as chief of staff for SA Liberal Senator David Fawcett and as a joint managing director of lobby group Bespoke Approach with former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, former Immigration Minister Nick Bolkus and political adviser Ian Smith.
She has worked for Viterra and with the Grains Council of Australia based in Canberra.
“I’m looking forward to representing producers again and being back in the industry that I’m incredibly passionate about,” she said.
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