Major grain gain for foodbank

Food relief organisation, Foodbank Australia says the Australian grain industry has donated the equivalent of 8.8 million meals over the past year and has boosted its targets for next year.

A Grain Industry Consultative Group that was initiated by Grain Trade Australia (GTA), partnered with Foodbank one year ago to coordinate the collection of the grain from individual growers and major companies.

Since then, Foodbank says, it has received 1293 tonnes of grain and flour, exceeding the 1000 tonne target set for the first year of the program.

This grain has been used in the production of essential items such as pasta and breakfast cereal to supplement Foodbank’s supply of key staple foods

GTA chairman Peter Reading provided the update at the Australian Grains Industry Conference (AGIC) in Melbourne last week.

“We’re off to a good start, but there’s more we can do to help meet the demand of healthy grain-based foods for the welfare sector,” Reading said.

He told attendees that the target for the second year of the program is to double donations to 2000 tonnes.

“The ultimate aim is to have a guaranteed supply of 3000 tonnes of grain donated a year. This would provide all the grain Foodbank needs for its manufacturing program – enough to produce the equivalent of 22 million meals. Even a couple of tonnes of grain will make a huge difference, if enough people participate,” he said.

Foodbank CEO Jason Hincks thanked the industry for its support so far and said he looked forward to seeing the partnership grow to help feed 2.3 million Australians living below the poverty line.

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