Co-operative Conversations: Episode 5

Episode 5  Part 1: Interview
Securing our bread bowl – safeguarding growers through collective efficiency

6.30 pm –  7.15 pm AEST – Interview

Farming can be a risky business, swinging from feast to famine, drought to flooding rains.

Renowned agricultural journalist and Co-operative Conversations host Pete Lewis talks with Natalie Browning, Western Australian grain farmer and new generation director of CBH, about how farmers can take some of the risk out of agricultural production by co-operating in business together.

Follow the journey of a farmer who has grown from member to Deputy Chair for one of Australia’s largest co-operatives.

Co-operative Bulk Handling, or CBH, is Australia’s largest co-operative and one of the nation’s biggest agribusinesses, exporting the grain of 4,000 West Aussie farmers. Formed by farmers over 85 years ago to drive collective efficiencies for Western Australian farmers in exporting their grain to the world, a purpose which holds true today. It has a fascinating story, with lots of triumphs and tribulations along the way.

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Episode 5 Part 2: Roundtable
Sharing knowledge for the better

7.45 pm –  8.45 pm AEST – Roundtable discussion

In a world where a competitive edge is often technology driven, data is driving efficiencies and profits in the agribusiness sector. Could knowledge captured and shared through co-operative ventures allow farms to thrive together? How can we get farmers to trust each other and share their data?

Meet the businesses doing just that and hear how, why, and what happened. If you are interested in exploring what is involved when agribusinesses share data, this roundtable is a great place to start.

Join journalist Pete Lewis with special guests: Wally Newman (farmer), Phillip Guthrie (Birchip Cropping Group), Kelly Pearce (Wheatbelt Science) and Melina Morrison.

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Join Pete Lewis for an inspiring interview series as he explores the journeys of some of Australia’s most interesting and successful co-operatives. Pete’s long and varied experience as a journalist specialising in agriculture will ensure he gets to the heart of the issues you want to hear about. This livestream is part of the Co-operative Farming program.