In recent years, grower attendances at field days have declined. GIVE proposes to address this issue by taking an approach that will revitalise such a field day by incorporating the following integral elements:

GROWER(s) learning and interacting with other growers and developing partnerships to facilitate the exchange of information.

INNOVATION(s) that evolve through grower/ group action learning that are relevant, practical and push the boundaries.

VIRTUAL in the sense that growers will come together in one location (Australian College of Agriculture – Burdekin) to exchange information about on-farm projects through digital medium (camera& video) that will be in turn be posted on a website.

EXPO that can accommodate a range of topics and styles. e.g. key note speakers, grower presentations and hands-on exhibits of on-farm technology.

Give is an initiative of the Action Learning Group, Advance Burdekin Collective (ABC) Research. Below you will find a description of the ABC Group.

Introduction:
In the latter part of 2004, Advance Burdekin Collective Research Inc (ABC), a non profit organisation was formed by seven like-minded Burdekin farmers for the purpose of having a direct input into research, development and extension to meet farmer’s specific needs. In order to achieve meaningful and profitable outcomes for farmers, with flow-on effects for their communities, ABC will pursue innovative on-ground experiences and processes, which challenge the current farming paradigms.

"For decades research has clearly indicated that an unexamined experience simply repeats itself; conversely a conscious examination of the learning to be derived from direct experience results in new approaches that often avoid the mistakes of the past."

ABC is as much determined to improve its own farming systems as it is to enhance the prosperity of the community that revolves around agriculture. This will be based on the continual action learning concept - Plan, Do, Check, Act. Action learning forms a key platform for the Advance Burdekin Collective strategic plan, ensuring the philosophy becomes embedded into future farming activities.

Individual members have high standards and are willing to put in time, effort and resources to expand on best practice farming systems.

Advance Burdekin Collective Research Inc will dedicate time and resources to enlist specific change management advice / coaching as part of a holistic approach to the future of farming.

Vision:
A Burdekin based, proactive, non-political, results-driven agricultural group, focused on profitability, sustainability and credibility.

Principles:
- Integrity, openness, honesty, creditability, self-help, participation, inclusion
- Shared-leadership, sustaining-processes, questioning/learning ethos
- High standards, protocols, coaching/mentoring, advocacy
- Innovative, entrepreneurial, synergistic.

Objectives:
- To challenge and implement best farming practice
- To improve members’ net worth
- To improve environmental credibility
- To be involved in spheres of influence
- To be a catalyst to openly provide information
- To promote objectives of group to community
- To engage with all industry sectors, including government, financial and agribusiness
- To engage in strategic alliances and partnerships
- To seek out funding to progress goals
- To have the structure to allow evolution
- To maximise expertise, experience and capacity; and
- To maximise net worth happiness

Our Program:
ABC has already demonstrated it's intention to help the broader farming communities with it's Birchip Cropping Group project which not only exposed farmers and agribusiness from the Burdekin but also in conjunction with DPI/F enabled farmers across the north to be apart of the Birchip Experience. We hosted Birchip Cropping Group in August 2005, we took them on a tour of the

region, conducted a dinner/presentation night which had 60 guests attend in the Burdekin. Had a one day workshop with the BCG members and ABC members to learn from there experiences as a farmer group. Due to ABC's initiative the Birchip members were also available to speak with the broader industry at a seminar in Townsville to share there experiences with farmer lead research.

ABC initiated and hosted a first of it's kind "Grower Innovation Virtual Expo" (G.I.V.E.), that allowed farmers to learn from farmers. Farmers from across the entire sugar growing regions gave 15minute presentations on there farming experiences. The G.I.V.E. concept proved very successful and validates ABC's belief that farmers want to learn from farmers , and also reinforces the fact that there are a large number of very innovative farmers that are looking for a conduit to expand there knowledge and share there experiences. ABC has all the right ingredients to be that vehicle. Some 300 people attended to listen to 14 groups who presented from NSW to Tully.

As mentioned above ABC is very aware that we must improve our ability to work collectively for the benefit of the group and our objectives, to this end we have engaged 'SeeChange" consultants to improve ABC's capacity to deal with the changes that we as a community and a group face. We intend to pursue avenues for ABC to have this type of professional help as an ongoing process within ABC.

ABC is in the process of building partnerships with local Agribusiness, this includes Banks, CSIRO, BSES, and Farming suppliers/ manufacturers.

ABC is in the process of putting together a news letter out lining it's learnings from the BCG visit, G.I.V.E. Day and the projects that it is currently working on, intercropping soy's / sugarcane, "SeeChange", a 2m row configuration trial that was conducted. To inform our community / industry of the progress we are making.

We look forward to hosting and forming even stronger relationships within, and outside of this industry to ADVANCE the sugar industry into the future.

"The definition of insanity is to continue to do the same thing , and to expect a different result" Albert Einstein.

For Further Information
Contact:
Andrew Lashmar
Mob: 0428188127
Email: a.lashmar@bigpond.com