With grain prices on the rise around the world due to drought in North America, the upcoming Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) will tackle the global issues now confronting the industry.

AGIC is the industry’s premier event and will be held in Melbourne form July 30 to August 1, and will this year follow a theme of the Commodities & Investment Jigsaw: Piecing it together.

The program features a number of leading international grains industry figures, with Philippe de Laperouse, Managing Director, HighQuest Partners, to speak on the topic of 'Global AgInvesting trends and implications for the Australian Agribusiness Sector'.

“Grain prices and the profitability of the Australian industry are influenced by factors around the world, which is why the AGIC program will tackle how international commodity and investment issues affect the supply chain,” conference organiser Rosemary Richards said.

The full program, which is available at www.ausgrainsconf.com, features topics including the market outlook for grains and oilseeds; global investment opportunities for the Australian industry; end-user trends; strategies to reduce trade and logistics risks; improving the delivery and adoption of grains industry R&D; and sustainability issues.

Among the international speakers featured on the program are Alex Duncan, of McDonald Pelz Global Commodities, and Greg Kostal, of Kostal Ag Consulting.

Prominent local industry figures to address the conference include Graham Hodges, Deputy CEO of ANZ; Alison Watkins, Chief Executive Officer of GrainCorp Operations; Philippa Purser, Managing Director, Cargill Australia Ltd; Alan Winney, Executive Chairman of Emerald Group Australia; and Gerard Morrison, Director of Sales, Maersk Line.

The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Water, Senator Barnaby Joyce, will also address the conference.

As well as keynote speeches, a number of panel sessions will be held to debate the both on-going and emerging issues facing the industry.

Ms Richards said registrations were heading towards record numbers with a high level of participation from international delegates.

“The conference program provides an opportunity for all in the industry to gain insights into global and local developments and incorporates a number of high profile globally recognised experts as well as local and international industry representatives,” she said.

“The strong support particularly from international delegates this year reflects the importance of Australia as a supplier to global grain, oilseed and pulse markets.”

The Australian Grains Industry Conference will be held from Monday 30 July to Wednesday 1 August at Melbourne’s Crown Conference Centre. The conference dinner on Tuesday 31 July is one of the industry’s social highlights of the year.

The Conference is hosted by Grain Trade Australia (GTA), the Australian Oilseeds Federation (AOF) and Pulse Australia.