The GIWA Oat Council played a key role in establishing the Processed Oat Partnership (POP), an industry-led program supported by the WA State Government which has committed $10.12 million to the program. POP is providing a strong foundation for growth in the Western Australian oat industry over the next 20 years.
GIWA and the Oat Council act as the lead program partner and advisor, facilitating communication between stakeholders. POP is overseen by a Steering Committee which includes representatives from the GIWA Oat Council.
With the support of POP funding; GIWA delivered OATSPO 2024, a high-profile field day event showcasing the latest research and developments in the WA oat industry and will deliver another OATSPO in September 2026; funded an oat-focused Nuffield Scholarship for a young WA oat grower; and is offering bursaries for an International Study Tour centred on the 12th International Oat Conference being held in Chile in November 2026.
Prior to Grains Australia coming into existence, the GIWA Oat Council was responsible for assessing and classifying all new milling oat varieties. Grains Australia has now assumed responsibility for classifying all grains, and GIWA’s Commodity Councils provide support to Grains Australia to undertake this through representation on Grains Australia’s technical committees.
Members
Andrew Bolt – Chair – CEO, Demeter Grains
Ashley Wiese – Deputy Chair – Grower, Highbury
Lachlan Briotti – Specialist (Commodity Trading), CBH Group
Trent Butcher – Agronomist, ConsultAg
Fran Calderon – Oat Sourcing Manager, Quakers
Shannen Davies – Grower, York
Malcolm Gillett – Grower, Williams
Brent Hope – General Manager Operations, Essantis
Sam Jackson – Grower, Kojanup
Jason Melchiorre – Director, Melchiorre Seeds
Lachlan McCabe – Field Accounts Manager, Balco
Jackson Morris – Trader, Premium Grain Handlers
Garry Page – Organic Oat Grower, Pingelly, and Certified Organic and Biodynamic WA
Allan Rattey – Oat Breeder, InterGrain
Guests (non-voting)
Alex Edward – Principal Policy Officer: Grains, DPIRD
Sabori Mitra – Senior Research Scientist – Oats, Grains Australia
Blakely Paynter – Principal Research Scientist, DPIRD
Claire Shadbolt – Lead – Quality Planning, CBH Group (proxy member)