CANEGROWERS MEDIA RELEASE


18 March 2011:  Cooperative approach needed on sugar pricing solution

CANEGROWERS has reiterated the need for the sugar industry to pull together and work cooperatively to get the best outcome from the industry pricing review.

The peak group for sugarcane growers has committed to participation in the QSL industry review, and to help it do just that, it will write to every member in the coming weeks canvassing their views of what they would like to see in an amended pricing system. CANEGROWERS will then feed the results into the industry review.

“The sugar system is designed to manage risk and maximise price for total volumes of around three million tonnes. However, last year we saw an unprecedented crop shortfall due to the extraordinary weather conditions, coming in at just 2.2 million tonnes,” says Steve Greenwood, CANEGROWERS CEO.

“While last year’s season was unprecedented, we must move to make changes to the system which will account for even the most unlikely event in the future.”

Over 80% of Queensland’s sugar is sold on the export market as raw.

“Our growers have and will continue to fight for the transparency and strength that QSL brings to our export arrangements,” says Greenwood.

“This is an industry-wide issue and CANEGROWERS will be working with all parties in the industry to participate constructively in getting a solution in train as quickly as possible,” he says.


Media comment:
Steve Greenwood | CANEGROWERS CEO | 0488 721 156
Alf Cristaudo | CANEGROWERS Chairman | 0418 181 204

More information:
Suzi Moore | CANEGROWERS Communications | 0427 641 239