CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF GRAIN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA

In September 2010, GPA was born.

That's the date when GPA officially replaced the former national representative body for Australian grain producers - the Grains Council of Australia. This is the point in time where GPA officially started serving representative responsibilities for every grain producer in Australia, under this new title.

That's a fundamental reason why grower representation is in GPA's DNA. But there's many more good reasons why that's so and there's also plenty to be proud of in GPA's journey representing Australian growers, over the past 15-years.

Leading up to September 2010, a process was established where grain producer leaders from across the nation gathered to meet and co-design a unified model, to future-proof national grain producer representation.

That's why GPA's democratic governance structure includes capacity for direct grower members and the democratic voices of the grain producer members of State Farming Organisations, through their elected leaders, and other grower representative groups.

This structure provides capacity for a strong democratic voice for growers to develop good grass-roots policy, and deliver good outcomes - especially industry good results. 

Call it good timing or something else, this week's Australian Grains Industry Showcase - co-hosted by GPA with the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers, held at Parliament House in Canberra for the third time - provided a great opportunity to celebrate GPA's 15th birthday, and see how far we've come.

It also provided unique opportunities connecting elected representatives with grains industry leaders; especially growers. There was no birthday cake, but plenty of fantastic products were served, made with high quality Australian grains - from grain-fed beef, baking products, beer, spirits, biofuels and so much more.  

This Showcase was a clear demonstration of the core values and principles - of unified industry representation - that GPA was not only founded on (2008-2010), but remains committed to delivering today, tomorrow and long into the future, because it's in our DNA.

GPA's motto - putting a few more dollars in growers' pockets, has been simple and effective. 

At this time, 15-years on, we acknowledge the incredible contributions of the grain growers who founded GPA.

Ultimately, it's not the title you wear, but what you do with it, that matters.

And we also say thanks to all those who've contributed to the strong representation that GPA has provided over the past 15-years - especially those who continue contributing their time and resources voluntarily, away from their own farming businesses and families, to serve and represent their industry and grain producing peers.