By Amber Martin
The Liebe Group’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Season Launch brought members, partners, and industry representatives together for an afternoon of reflection, discussion, and planning for the season ahead.
The event kicked off with the AGM, led by Chairperson Brad McIlroy, where Executive Officer Chris O’Callaghan reflected on the past year, highlighting the Liebe Group’s achievements and ongoing commitment to grower-driven research. Finance Manager Sophie Carlshausen followed with a financial update, giving members a transparent look at the organisation’s position and future objectives. The AGM also saw the official introduction of the 2025 committees, welcoming new members and recognising ongoing members for their contributions.
After a short break, attention turned to the Season Launch, diving into one of the most pressing issues in modern agriculture: carbon in farming.
The session began with a Global Market Update from Rabobank’s Vitor Pistoia and Theo Saroukos, who provided a detailed breakdown of global grain economics, trade dynamics, and what growers should expect in 2025.
The spotlight then shifted to carbon and sustainability, with Catherine Bell (RSM) sharing valuable insights about the opportunities and challenges facing farmers as carbon markets evolve. Trevor Lucas (CBH Group) followed with a comprehensive discussion of carbon-neutral grain supply chains, outlining how WA grain can align with evolving global sustainability standards.
Bringing it back to practical farm-level application, Liebe Group R&D Coordinator Daenia Dundon provided a breakdown of the Carbon Farming Outreach Program in which the Liebe Group will be involved. With carbon often viewed as a complex topic, Daenia simplified the key concepts and related them directly to current grower requirements, giving attendees valuable, actionable insights.
Finally, Chris O’Callaghan gave an overview of the Liebe Group's objectives for 2025. The day wrapped up with a functional sundowner, which gave growers and industry representatives the chance to continue discussions, ask questions, and exchange insights on topical issues.
Liebe Group also celebrated 20 years of partnership with RSM and 15 years with Farmanco - we greatly appreciate their support over these years!
The Liebe Group extends their thanks to all members, speakers, and industry representatives for making the event a success.
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