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29/04/2025
Grower Group Alliance CEO Rikki Foss and Rabobank Western Australia State Manager, Steve Kelly.
Collaboration is key when it comes to progressing an industry, and Western Australian farmers have a unique seat at the table shaping their future, thanks to the Grower Group Alliance (GGA).
Consisting of 95 agricultural organisations, including 61 local grower groups, GGA is a producer-led system that underpins agricultural innovation, adoption, and collaboration at both a farmgate and industry level.
From supporting on-farm crop walks, to sourcing funding for groundbreaking research, GGA CEO Rikki Foss believes the success of the Alliance is all thanks to the strength of its participating organisations.
“The innovation and technical advancement across agriculture over the past decade has been quite astronomical, and modern farmers have a thirst for knowledge to continue driving this change,” Ms Foss explained.
“Our grower groups ensure that farmers on the ground have a platform to connect with industry, build capacity, and actively participate in the latest research and development.”
The GGA also provides a practical and valuable platform to disseminate the tsunami of information, and often complex regulations levelled at farmers on the ground.
“Our groups are the conduit of information, helping our farmers navigate everything from productivity, workplace, health and safety audits through to data management,” Ms Foss said.
“There’s an impetus being put on primary producers running a farm business, and we want to make sure they have the tools they need for good governance and efficient management, particularly when the goalposts are continually changing.”
In 2019 there were 37 grower groups in the GGA network, and with that number now having almost tripled, Ms Foss believes this natural growth signifies its impact at an industry level.
“Success happens when groups work together, peer-to-peer, and we’re really proud of the strong network that’s been built – it is quite unique to the Western Australian industry,” Ms Foss said.
Values align for strong industry, and community
Rabobank is further supporting the GGA and Western Australian farmers, partnering with grower groups across the State – with many of these relationships now spanning over 20 years.
Western Australia’s Rabobank State Manager, Steve Kelly, is proud of the bank’s role in supporting local grower groups, acknowledging Rabo and the GGA’s in step growth across Western Australia.
“Our first regional Rabobank branch opened in Western Australia in 2001 – which coincided with our first sponsorship of SEPWA – and together we’ve grown in size, relevance and contribution.”
“It’s a partnership across Western Australia that ultimately benefits industry and clients, providing knowledge to ensure agriculture thrives. We want our clients to have the latest knowledge, research and learnings so they are well-armed to manage the variables of farming.”
Equally important, Steve believes, is the personal development and networking opportunities that grower groups provide farm business owners.
“From developing business skills such as human resource management, data analysis tools or sustainability goals, the human capacity building within the local industry is a testament to our grower groups.”
“Whether it’s support responding to drought, frost or other climate challenges, different agronomy and variety trials, or encouraging innovation and technology, the grower groups give farmers confidence about their business, and that gives us confidence as a bank lending solely to the agricultural industry,” Steve said.
A partnership for industry, and community
Ms Foss believed the clear objectives of both the GGA and Rabobank – to support farmers to do more with less – was an aligned vision, and she was grateful for Rabobank’s ongoing commitment.
“It’s not just the sponsorship dollars that support our grower groups, it’s Rabobank’s genuine engagement, from facilitating networking opportunities to providing technical support and industry connections, the bank is dedicated to working collaboratively,” Ms Foss said.
She believed supporting local grower groups was also a valuable opportunity for Rabobank to contribute to rural communities.
“Our partnership with Rabobank reflects a long-term commitment to regional communities – as the prosperity of our farmers rises, so too does that of our communities at large.”
“Ultimately our shared vision is to enrich our regions, and not just through a monetary contribution, but through shared conversations, building relationships and connection, and providing farmers with the opportunity to upskill, learn and develop,” Ms Foss said.
“Rabo does so much in this space thanks to the knowledge and networking events it delivers, and its dedicated capacity building programs, all with the overarching picture of building relationships to help grow an industry, and we’re proud to be partnering together to add further value to our farmers and communities.”
Rabobank's Claire Gray and Vynka deVree at the Lakes Information and Farming Technology (LIFT) Spring Field Day