The board have shown faith in the current leadership, returning the experience of the existing team, for another term, which includes Alf Cristaudo, Joe Russo, and Paul Schembri.

The Canegrowers executive said they were looking forward to continuing their vital function on behalf of the Board and Members throughout the coming three year term.

All three thanked the Board for their support, trust and faith, and pledged to continue to work hard, whilst striving to achieve the best possible outcomes for members.

“I am pleased to enter my third term as Chairman of Canegrowers,” said Mr Cristaudo.

“On behalf of the Canegrowers executive, we look forward to continuing our important advocacy work to ensure a healthy and vibrant sugarcane industry.

“Our focus for the coming year will remain on the multitude of issues facing cane growers currently.

From moderating the Queensland Government’s unworkable approach to regulating the cane sector, to working on a fairer approach to water pricing, to bringing pressure to bear on our milling and marketing systems to ensure they are structured in a way to best deliver benefits to growers - these issues are just the tip of the iceberg."

The sugarcane industry has experienced enormous change over the past 20 years, and that change is set to continue with interest in Australia’s cutting-edge sugarcane sector both nationally, with Maryborough sugar factory’s recent offer on Queensland’s far northern mills, and internationally with an offer from Bright Food Group for Sucrogen on the table.

“The next few years will be critical to strengthening both our industry and our place within a strong, internationally recognised Australian agricultural sector,” said Mr Cristaudo.

“We need to ensure that a strong research and development function is in place, so that in another 10 years we are still held up internationally as front-runners in agriculture."