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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-08/farmers-build-own-rice-mill-after-sunrice-monopoly/105379508>
'A new $10 million rice mill in southern New South Wales is being hailed as a
bold step towards food security and rural sustainability.
Built on the outskirts of Jerilderie, the mill opened in the Riverina region,
which produces 98 per cent of Australia's rice.
The proud group of farmers behind the project hope their mill, equipped with
cutting-edge Japanese technology, will increase profitability and resilience
after a century of domination by a corporate monopoly.
"It's a red-letter day for the region," Murrumbidgee Shire Mayor Ruth McRae
said.
"Out here in rural and regional Australia you don't rely on other people to do
it for you.
"If you think you've got something that's got a good chance of developing …
just roll your sleeves up and get it done."
The impetus for the mill was born during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when
many Australian supermarkets ran out of rice, creating panic about food
security.
"They [consumers] got very concerned about their supply of food products into
Australia," rice grower Mark Robertson said.
He and other farmers had their own concerns.
They questioned whether using limited irrigation water to grow conventional
rice varieties was delivering the best returns.'
Via Susan ****
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*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
