What have we achieved?
Since incorporation, the ACBC in partnership with University of Queensland has negotiated a research grant of more than $300,000 from the Federal Government's RIRDC to develop a sophisticated chain link marketing system. With separate brand names for both local and export marketing, the grant includes post harvest research on harvesting, handling, packing and growing techniques designed to optimise our product quality.
This research under the overall guidance of Dr Ray Collins of University of Queensland and ACBC management has a full time postgraduate student assisting the ACBC. To date, a preliminary quality assurance system is being implemented for ACBC domestic & export brand name product. This system has been finetuned through the collaboration of the abovementioned researchers & members at a number of workshops at members' plantations.
We are aiming to develop our markets so as to always be ahead of production.
ACBC support and advice includes plantation management advice, field days and workshops, harvesting procedures and equipment advice.
Fresh shoots are being marketed domestically under the ACBC brand name for the first time in the season November 2001-May 2002 for between $3.00 and $5.50/kg. As a result of two Japanese marketing missions, samples of our export product were taken to Japan in February 2001. However, due to the Japanese economy experiencing difficulty, it has been decided to shelve plans to enter that market for a year or two. A sample shipment of product was sent to Singapore in February 2002 with a positive response & the ACBC intends to research & develop that market as well as other Asian markets such as Taiwan.
Who can join?
Full (Grower) membership - Is open to commercial growers with at least 0.5ha of monopodial (running) bamboo, or a contiguous plantation of at least 100 sympodial (clumping) bamboos. Each Grower member is entitled to vote at meetings.
Associate membership - Is open to anyone with an interest in commercial bamboo production. There are no voting rights with associate membership.
Cost
Full membership has been set at $130.00 for the year January to December 2002 and $110.00 for Associate members. The fee will increase in future years to compensate earlier members for the cost of research and development already done as later members join. A joining fee for new members was introduced in February 2001. For the January 2002 to December 2002 the joining fee is $200. Under the constitution, membership applications are confirmed by the board prior to acceptance, and receipts are issued subject to that requirement. GST does not apply because the ACBC's income is below the required threshold.
How to join.
Contact: The Secretary - ACBC
Sue Stephens
Kennedy Highway
Atherton Qld 4883
Phone 07 4091 1737
Email susane@austarnet.com.au
Australian Commercial Bamboo Corporation Limited.
ACN 084 794 892
