Ag Horizons Forum Highlights There is Still Much Work to be Done.
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Raw, untreated peanuts still being allowed into Australia, was the big issue at the Ag Horizons Forum, held in Kingaroy last Friday. The event was attended by almost 140 people, with about 60 per cent made up of local growers.
Opened by the Honourable David Littleproud MP, Member for Maranoa, the forum highlighted both the impact and the learnings of the South Burnett peanut industry following Bega's decision to close its Kingaroy processing plant in 2025, setting these against the broader challenges facing regional agricultural supply chains.
In his opening address, Mr Littleproud spoke to attendees about the need for rural industries to collaborate rather than operate in isolation, encouraging producers, growers, and their processors to work together in support of not only the peanut industry, but the wider farming community. He noted that Australia's three major supermarkets hold approximately 75 per cent of market share, compared with 30 to 40 per cent in the United States, a level of market concentration well understood by growers who describe their industry as one of price takers, not price makers.
Mr Littleproud also expressed concern that the Australian Government was yet to act on the biosecurity risk posed by untreated peanuts continuing to enter Australia, and urged all present to stand up for agricultural industries and the biosecurity systems designed to protect them.
Growers raised concerns that more needed to be done to protect the industry, which was already under significant pressure from imported peanuts sourced from countries operating under different legislative and regulatory standards. These pressures have contributed to a decline in Australia's share of global peanut trade, with the local industry now representing approximately 0.2 per cent of world production. Around 65 to 70 per cent of peanuts consumed domestically are now imported, primarily from Argentina, India, and other parts of Asia.
Further concerns centred on the level of testing applied to imported peanuts and peanut products, particularly around compliance with Australian food safety requirements and biosecurity treatment protocols. The illegal importation of untreated peanuts was also raised as a concern, and acknowledged by Rachel Chambers, Queensland's Food Farmers Commissioner.
Growers also addressed the broader structural challenges facing the industry, including supermarket supply chain practices, pricing pressures on processors, and the growing use of imported peanuts in domestic production. Many expressed concern that these combined pressures are making it increasingly difficult for local producers to remain viable.
As Tim Sayre, Project Officer of Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett's Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program commented,
"The day was about starting the discussion on where the peanut industry is and what has been the cause/s of this, which was definitely achieved. Now the conversation turns to what can we do to help the industry grow and provide financial stability to the local growers, before we see the next drought."
The forum concluded with a discussion about the future of the industry and the notable absence of a dedicated grower representative body. While no formal body was established on the day, organisers remain hopeful that one may emerge in time, providing the industry with the advocacy and structural support it needs to stabilise and strengthen.
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