Leading oat academics, growers, researchers and processors from around the world are heading to Perth, both in-person and virtually, from 10 to 13 October 2022 for the 11th International Oat Conference at Crown Perth.

The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Health’, with renowned international and local experts sharing their latest research on the many health benefits of oat products. The audience will also hear about recent innovations and research in oat farming systems, breeding, disease resistance and oat product development, plus global export market outlooks from leading agribusinesses. 

The conference will be delivered by the Grain Industry Association of Western Australia (GIWA) and supported by the Processed Oat Partnership (POP), an industry-led program supported by State Government investment.

The conference is a hybrid event. Registrations can be selected for in-person or virtual attendance. Virtual attendees will be able to participate in all sessions in real-time, and pose questions to presenters via the conference app. Source and Image: OAT2022 / GIWA

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is expanding its research capacity and looking for the next generation of leading research scientists passionate about climate change, predictive science, and soil genetics.

If you are interested in innovative farming systems and research, and have the science expertise, then DPIRD is the best place to work. With the increase in global demand for sustainably-produced food, your expertise will help boost the productivity of local growers and sustainability of our economy.

As a researcher, you will work on an exciting range of projects ranging from ag-tech farming systems to establishing solutions for producers, and from resource management to maintaining global food security. Join DPIRD and help make a difference to WA’s future. Applications close 11pm AWST 6 September 2022. More...  Source and Image: DPIRD

If you export seafood to China and want to continue to in the future, you must update your registration details within the China Import Food Enterprise Registration system (CIFER) by tomorrow, Wednesday 31 August 2022.

To maintain your export access to China you must:

1. Gain access to your CIFER account.
2. Update your information through a 'modification application' by 31 August.
3. Submit your modification application through CIFER to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

All China listed establishments hold a CIFER registration. To access your CIFER account, email exportlisting@agriculture.gov.au or call 02 6272 5105. More... Source and Photo: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Digital technologies and data are increasingly important for Australia’s economy, and policies that promote digital innovation and adoption are needed to drive productivity growth, according to a new report from the Australian Productivity Commission.

The Commission’s second interim report of its five-year productivity enquiry – released last week – examined the role data and digital tools and applications can play in Australia’s continued prosperity.

“Digital technology and data have already transformed our economy and society, but we have not yet tapped into their full potential,” Commissioner, Dr Stephen King said.

“Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotic automation and big data analytics could revolutionise how businesses operate and help lift Australia’s productivity growth by reducing costs, improving the quality of goods and services, and increasing product choice for consumers.”

An earlier report from the Australian Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research estimated that the additional economic benefit from broadband-supported technology could be between $3.0 and $10.6 billion per year (in 2017–18 dollars) for the agricultural sector by 2029–30, which represents an additional boost to economic activity in agriculture of between 4.7 to 16.9% by 2030. More... Source: Productivity Commission | Photo: RAEng / Unpslash

The latest World Trade Organisation (WTO) Goods Trade Barometer issued on 23 August 2022 suggests global trade growth continued to grow in the second quarter of 2022, but the pace of growth will be slower than in first quarter and is likely to remain weak in the second half of the year.

The Goods Trade Barometer is an indicator for world trade, providing real-time information on the trajectory of merchandise trade relative to recent trends.

The overall barometer remains below a companion index representing actual merchandise trade volumes, suggesting year-on-year trade growth may slow further, largely due to the conflict in Ukraine and COVID-19 lockdowns in China. More... Source and Graphic: WTO