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.