Networking opportunity
In an effort to boost inter-industry understanding, a Wimmera agricultural logistics business hosted a networking event for grain growers, buyers and logistics companies last week.
The event, hosted by transport logistics enterprise SCT, invited Grain Grower Association delegates from various Wimmera businesses to the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal in Dooen for site tours, networking opportunities and interviews.
SCT general manager Matt Eryurek said the day was a chance to bring various elements of the grain industry together to showcase and advocate for inter-industry co-operation and Wimmera grain industry development.
SCT, operating out of the Dooen hub since 2012, confirmed its transport of grain from the region to Melbourne ports would heavily rely on rail instead of road.
“We support grain growers and our work involves running containers of agricultural product out of the region to Melbourne ports,” he said.
“This gives us the opportunity to present, showcase and advocate for cleaner and more efficient solutions from rail to port, to our customers. It is important they understand what we do.
“Sometimes international shipping companies make decisions to reduce terms or equipment supply, but don’t necessarily understand how that affects farmers, growers or packers.
“We want to bring key stakeholders into the region to speak with people in the industry in the Wimmera, introduce a human element and get them to understand without solutions for getting grain to market, it doesn’t get exported.
“We want to host multiple discovery sessions in regional areas, to advocate for farmers. The more we talk about the positives of the region, land investment, greener sustainable solutions and efficiency development in the region, the better for our customers and for the region.”
Grain Growers national policy group member Daniel Kean said it was exciting to see the vision SCT had for grain growing in the region.
“It was very interesting to see the investment the company was making in the container line space and discuss what this investment could do for the region in the future,” he said.
“More efficient transport solutions make our grain more profitable and that is more money in the growers hands.”