Industry and community literally as one

BY DAN GALLIGAN, CEO, CANEGROWERS

We often talk about how intrinsically agriculture is linked to our communities.

The nature of farming means that our impact on community goes far beyond what is often considered the ‘standard metrics of impact’, like employment and turn over.

To support our advocacy efforts, we regularly study the impacts sugarcane growers have within the community. We delve deep down to better understand our role in local employment and economic contribution.

As a result of this research, we know farming has a deep impact on the broader community.

CANEGROWERS has completed research that confirmed that for every dollar a cane farm spends in the community $6.42 is generated in economic value.

It is this kind of analysis that has been top of mind as we witnessed the recent struggles of the local community as it tried to save the Mossman sugar mill.

It may be only one business and one industry, but it has been the community that has pulled together to try to save the mill.

The sugar industry is more than important to this community, it has literally been the backbone of the Mossman community, supporting 150 mill jobs and another 300 or so across the sugar industry.

The loss of the mill would have impacts on real estate, schools, community groups and most importantly families and real people.

The loss of the second largest industry in the Douglas Shire would be a huge blow. From a growers’ perspective it would be devastating—eighty-five growers supply sugarcane to Mossman Mill.

Mossman and the growers have been backing this mill for decades, contributing over $7 million in cash over the past five years and now they have $14 million invested in this current year’s cane crop.

The cane grower community has worked tirelessly to make the Daintree Bio Precinct model work in Mossman. Many promises and commitments have been made, some have worked while some haven’t, but the growers have stood solid and fought for the future of their industry the whole time.

The grower leaders in the area have been active, thoughtful and worked hard to keep their industry alive. They should be proud of their impact on the community, no matter what lies ahead for the future of the Mossman mill its future will be secured if the growers are confident it is in safe hands.