Collaborative Farming could change the face of Australian Agriculture
Updated
Most farmers would agree the Australian approach to farming has changed dramatically in the last thirty years with greater input from farm consultants, grain marketers and banks.
However some things haven't changed very much, most family farms are still structurally just that, run by one family on a scale that one family can manage.
Nuffield Scholar John Gladigau believes changing that structure will be the next big advance in Australian agriculture.
His family is part of a collaborative farm where he works in partnership with his neighbours.
Each family retains ownership of their property and the business is owned and operated jointly.
Mr Gladigau says this allows them to run a larger more efficient, professional business.
"We probably go about it with a bit more corporate thinking I guess, in that we try to create a structure where there's and opportunity for us all to have input in a way where our skills are best utilised," Mr Gladigau said.
A feature of the collaborative farm is a board like structure that sits above the business with and independent chair.
Mr Gladigau says this is a useful way to take emotions out of decision making.
"The biggest threat to this business and any kind of collaborative business is emotions and personalities."
"We think probably the one essential ingredient is to have someone independent or more than one independent in there who is ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and ensuring that everyone's needs are met," he said.
Topics: small-business, women-in-agriculture, farm-labour, geraldton-6530
First posted