5 October 2012
Oilseed rape industry a goer!
Federated Farmers Grain & Seed Industry Group welcomes the news that Solid Energy has received a bid to buy its Agribusiness division as a going
concern.
“After hearing a few weeks ago there was a possibility that Solid Energy could simply shut the doors at Biodiesel New
Zealand, this is the news that oilseed rape growers have been waiting for,” says Federated Farmers South Canterbury
Grain & Seed Chairman and oilseed rape grower, Colin Hurst.
“Growing oilseed rape requires a significant commitment because the seeds can stay in the ground and stop you growing
any other brassica for as long as ten years.
“That’s why it is incredibly positive for growers who have made this commitment that the announced preferred bidder will
enter the industry to continue oilseed production.
“As suppliers to the business, we really could not have asked for a better consortium of buyers, so we are incredibly
supportive of this bid.
“Midland Seeds and Southern Packers are each established local/Canterbury businesses with a strong reputation in food
production which will be a great fit for this business.
“For some time growers have felt that New Zealand’s reputation as a producer of high value, sustainable and renewable
food products, means that the food market presents more opportunities for the rape seed oil industry rather than
bio-fuels,” Mr Hurst concluded.
ends