WA based David Jeffries says most peak industry bodies in Australian agriculture have a nationally consistent quality assurance program but it’s lacking in the grains industry.

“The lack of a national QA framework will become a very real headache for growers as grain traders and buyers look to have their own individual programs in place in the future.

“There are already several QA programs operating in the grains industry and several others in development.

"Without a benchmarking framework to assess each of them against an industry agreed set of expectations, growers would likely be faced with the burden of maintaining more than one QA system.

“I was fortunate enough, by participating in the Australian Future Grain Leaders Program, to pursue a project that I hope will see a nationally consistent definition of Australian quality assured grain ratified by Grain Trade Australia.”

Mr Jeffries presented on his project at the Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) in Melbourne last week along with two other program participants, including Tim Dean from Victoria who shared information on his project on developing a fuel hedging policy with conference delegates.

Mr Dean encouraged those who worked in the grains industry to consider applying for the program’s 2010/2011 intake which was now open.

“The program provided a great opportunity and a platform to work on a project that I was really interested in. I would encourage all young people in the grains industry to apply for the program next year. It’s a great opportunity to create networks and gain an understanding of the industry on different level to your day to day job,” said Mr Dean.

Richard Prusa from South Australia also presented at AGIC. His topic looks at increasing pulse production in southern and western Australia by strengthening international pulse market understanding and promoting the efficient growing of pulses.