The Council of Grain Grower Organisations has taken the initial steps towards joining the Grains Council of Australia so that Western Australian growers can once again have a voice at the national policy making table.

Bindi Bindi grower and COGGO chairman, Bruce Piper said that for too long "various grower organisations have made WA growers be spectators and not players" in grains industry politics.

"COGGO can no longer stand by and see this situation continue," Mr Piper said.

"Without WA representation at the national level on GCA, WA growers are, effectively, being denied a real voice on funding and policies surrounding such critical areas as research and development and biosecurity, in particular.

"As COGGO imports germplasm and supports R&D projects and investments here and abroad, we are committed to protecting our members' best interests."

Mr Piper has held preliminary talks with GCA Chairman, Murray Jones, who has welcomed the COGGO approach.

Mr Jones said the GCA’s current focus is on five important areas that require a united national approach: bioscurity & quarantine, trade, climate change, research & development and national transport infrastructure.

Legislation requires that GCA consults and recommends on R&D, plant health and the national residue survey.

Mr Piper said that although membership of GCA would not come cheap, it was an essential investment by COGGO, on behalf of all WA growers, in their industry’s future.

With about 2000 WA members, COGGO covers approximately half the state’s growers and, where possible, seeks its members’ views across a broad spectrum of issues.