From left to right: The Hourable Joe Helper MP (VIC Minster for Agriculture & Small Business), Roger Frankel (Honorary Consul of Brazil in Victoria), Cristina Talacko (ABCC President), His Excellency Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto (Ambassador to Brazil in Australia), Bernard Baxter (ABCC -Victoria diretor)Victorian, NSW and South Australian agribusiness companies attended the ABCC Agribusiness Forum at the University of Melbourne, with the Honourable Joe Helper, Minister for Agriculture and Small Business and Member for Ripon, who emphasised the increased interest from Victoria in Brazil, especially with the appointment of Ben Foskett as Special Trade Envoy for Latin America.
In June 2008 Ben accompanied Prof David de Kretser, Governor of Victoria, on the first Victorian vice regal visit to Latin America and in May this year Ben led a Victorian “Urbanisation” trade mission to Brazil and to Argentina – the first formal trade mission hosted by the department to the region.
Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto discussed the present climate of the Brazilian economy as positive and discussed opportunities for partnerships in the bio-fuels and energy sectors.
Stephen Lill, General Manager of Chadwick Downs Cattle Company (currently Australia’s largest breeder of registered Bradford Cattle), has made 9 visits to Brazil to attend Cattle Expositions, Congresses and has participated with Austrade at the Feicorte Showcase. With Chadwick Downs genetics now featuring in 25% of Argentinean Braford herds, there is a focus in further introducing performance Braford genetics into Brazil.
We also had the privilege of hearing Professor German Spangenberg’s presentation on converting genomic discoveries into genetic solutions for agricultural industries. The Professor won the Australian Scientist Award in 2006 and is the Executive Director of the Biosciences Research Division (Department of Primary Industries) as well as a professor at La Trobe University.
Amongst other speakers were Marco Stacke from Perenia Carbon discussing opportunities for agricultural companies in the carbon credit markets and Ben White from Food Group who gave us an insight on the Victorian government’s approach to food security.
We thank the Victorian Government and JBS Swift for supporting the Forum and all speakers and guests, and invite our members we are preparing to host the ABCC Sustainability Forum in Sydney in September 2009.
Andy Marvin, JBS Swift Australia
