Grains Council of Australia (GCA) chairman Murray Jones announced today the acceptance of the Council of Grain Grower Organisations Ltd (COGGO) as its newest member.

Mr Jones said that there was unanimous support by GCA members for West Australian based COGGO to become a member.

“As the peak grains industry body, it is critical that we have national representation around the policy making table," he said.

With approximately 2000 WA members, COGGO covers nearly half the state’s growers.

All COGGO Board members are grain growers: Bruce Piper, Aiden Obst, Bruce Eyres, Christopher Roberts, Steven Rowe, John Carstairs and Gerard Paganoni.

Mr Jones said there has been significant change within the grains industry over the past few years and GCA has had to evolve to ensure the industry is represented on national issues.

“Our current focus is developing robust policy around critical issues that require a united national approach including: climate change, research and development, biosecurity and quarantine, trade and infrastructure."

Mr Jones said that he would also like NSW to have a voice around the national policy table as it is now the only state is not represented.