Farmers, fishers and other primary producers are known for their resilience, but in the past few years they have faced unprecedented challenges including drought, fires, floods, global commodity and export market impacts, COVID-19 restrictions, issues highlighted in the Banking Royal Commission and investment barriers pushing more family farms to outside ownership.
Co-operative farming is seen as one model that can assist, giving farmers competitive advantage and market power by scaling, collaborating and innovating.
A new live-streamed series, Co-operative Conversations, hears from farmers and producers who are successfully using co-operative farming business models to transform their business and communities.
Hosted by renowned agricultural journalist Pete Lewis, the series showcases candid conversations and the real-life experiences of Australia’s farming frontline.
Through a range of interviews and roundtables, primary producers and the businesses they work with will get a closer look at co-operative business models in the face of a challenge or crisis, where the model does and doesn't succeed, and just how relevant and transformational it can be.
“There has never been a better time to come together and explore ways to protect Australia’s farming businesses and communities, and the huge contribution they make to supply, biosecurity and the economy,” Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals chief executive officer Melina Morrison said.
“The stories we are telling are inspiring in this period of upheaval.
“Through the experiences of other farmers, and education from experts, this series will show primary producers how they can build resilience and growth in their business by coming together in a co-operative.”
The 10-episode, fortnightly series will be released on June 17 and run until October 23.
It will be available via: conversations.coopfarming.coop
