Queensland Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce today spoke out in support of a new initiative by Sunshine Coast cane growers to export CowCandy feed to Japan and Korea.

‘CowCandy is highly valued as part of fodder requirements for both dairy and beef. It is a viable and sustainable value adding alternative for sugar cane and has other economic benefits to the regions,’ Senator Joyce said.

‘This new initiative by BioCane Limited is the cornerstone project for a buoyant new future in agriculture on the Sunshine Coast. It will generate new export income of up to $30 million per annum.

‘Two of the three stages of the project have been successfully advanced, with the final stages awaiting Federal funding assistance.

‘The first stage is completed which proved the product, technology and viability of the project.

‘The second stage is well advanced to scale up the pilot plant to supply fully loaded containers for control feeding trials by clients in Japan and Korea.

‘Stage three of the project is the expansion to full scale production. BioCane made an application in round 1 of the regional and community project grant component of the Federal Government’s sugar industry reform package. The company has been encouraged to apply again in the recently announced Round 2 applications.

Senator Joyce said ‘This is a very worthwhile project with wider benefits to the regions. There is also opportunity to expand with others to process agricultural crops such as tomatoes, pineapples and strawberries.’

BioCane Limited is principally owned by cane growers and has the community behind the project as well as investors, the Sunshine Coast Environment Council and the Queensland Government.

Ends