12 JULY 2010  > Strong Aussie presence on world sugar front

The key gathering of world sugarcane and beet growers in mid-July will have a strong Australian presence as a leading world sugar producer.

A dozen Australian cane growers and CANEGROWERS representatives will be flying the flag for Australian sugarcane at the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG) in historic Cambridge in the UK from 19-22 July 2010, which draws together around 350 delegates from 23 sugar and beet producing countries from around the world.

The world body for beet and cane growers has been led by an Australian President for the past three years, following the appointment of CANEGROWERS Chairman Alf Cristaudo during the last major gathering, hosted by Australia in Brisbane in 2007. During the conference in Cambridge, Alf will hang up his presidential boots, and hand over to British counterpart, William Martin, who is the current Chairman of the National Farmers’ Union (Sugar Beet).

Ian Ballantyne will end his 20 year association with the group when he delivers an Australian industry presentation which hones in on the significant changes since industry specific deregulation. This will be underscored by the importance of global fair trade arrangements. “We will be urging our European and American counterparts to consider deregulation in their own rights,” says Mr Ballantyne, for whom this is the last official international gig on behalf of Australian sugar.

“Strong Australian involvement on the sugar world stage has been key to developing the strength and respect we now enjoy internationally. These relationships and the knowledge sharing which occurs though alliances like these will continue to be a force that helps drive the future of our industry. And we will continue to look to be at the front of that charge.”