Gone are the bad old days when chemical sheds were only locked on audit day, and where a year’s worth of quality records would be fudged the day before an audit.
Australian farmers now accept food safety and quality assurance as an important part of doing business and take their responsibilities very seriously.
This change of attitude is partly attributable to the work of well known service provider, TQA Australia, which has played a major role in shaping the on-farm food safety and quality assurance scene in Australia.
Origins
TQA Australia was originally formed as Tasmanian Quality Assured in November 1997.
The Tasmanian Government and a number of peak industry bodies established the not for profit organization to help primary producers cope with the emergence of quality assurance and food safety systems.
At that time, TQA Australia was the only Australian organisation outside of government that was committed to reducing the quality assurance and food safety compliance burden for farmers, and ensuring that those farmers that were certified, were recognised for their efforts.
Key focus
Farmers, politicians and agribusiness leaders from around Australia recently gathered in Ulverstone on Tasmania’s north-west coast (close to where the organisation is based) to celebrate TQA Australia’s 15th birthday.
From the beginning, the organisation’s key focus has been on reducing the need for management systems requiring multiple audits.
Australia’s first National On-farm Food Safety and Quality Assurance Conference, convened by TQA Australia in 1999, was a turning point, securing its reputation as a leader in this field.
Australia-wide coverage & more services
Working across all states and territories, the TQA Australia team has a reputation for providing first class training, project management and consultancy.
Whilst still helping farmers deal with quality assurance and food safety, the organisation is now providing solutions across a range of areas including occupational health and safety, environmental management, strategic planning and marketing.
Talking to farmers
When asked how the Tasmanian–based organisation has remained such an important player for so many years, chairman Nick Burrows says, “It’s simple, we talk to farmers from all parts of Australia every day, and every day we ask them what it is that keeps them awake at night.”
“Whether the answer is occupational health and safety, paperwork, audits or any other aspect of their business, we develop a practical and affordable solution that suits their unique circumstances.
“Peak industry bodies and government departments continually ask us to manage projects, because of this same focus on practical outcomes, rather than wordy policies, procedures and reports.”
TQA Australia helps growers overcome today’s challenges and make the most of tomorrow’s opportunities.
E-mail
phone 03 6423 6008 www.tqaaustralia.com.au
See this article in Tree Fruit Dec 2012
