NSW farmer Andrew Wilson says Australian ownership needs to be promoted

With Australia Day not far away, NSW farmer Andrew Wilson says consumers should be aware if their produce is made by Aussie-owned processors.

Average shoppers want to support Australian-owned dairy businesses but aren’t able to decipher local co-operatives from multinational processors, NSW farmer Andrew Wilson says.

The Lismore region farmer supplies Norco dairy co-operative, which last year launched a campaign for ‘country of ownership’ labelling, alongside other food producers such as Sunshine Sugar, Mayver’s Foods and Sanitarium – the makers of Weetbix.

Mr Wilson said the foreign buy-up of Australian dairy processors by French-owned Lactalis, NZ-owned Fonterra and Canadian-owned Saputo had a demonstrable effect on the local farmgate.

Norco opened the 2024-25 season at $12.35 per kilogram milk solids, roughly equivalent to its 2023-24 price, compared to most other processors which cut their farmgate offerings between 10 and 20 per cent.

“I was really proud of Norco when they opened with such a strong farmgate price this season. Other farmers haven’t been as fortunate (with their processors). But it highlights how having an Australian-based co-operative delivers for farmers, because the factory is not far removed from the farmer.”

Norco farmer Andrew Wilson at the Norco ice cream factory in Lismore. Photo: Elise Derwin

In September, the grouping of five Australian food producers released a survey which found 66 per cent of shoppers would buy more Australian made and owned products if the information was readily available.

“Most people want to do the right thing and support Aussie farmers supplying an Aussie factory. (Labelling) around Aussie ownership needs to made clearer, so you can make a more informed choice when shopping.”