With the 2025/26 harvest now underway, Bunge thanks farmers for prioritising food safety and quality management practices as they begin to deliver to its sites.
Farmers play a major role upholding the quality of Australian grain, protecting its reputation and meeting end use market requirements.
To prevent contamination, farmers are reminded to inspect and clean all equipment used for holding, transferring and carrying grain prior to use.
In particular, augers, bins, trucks and harvesters which may not have been used for some time might contain nil contaminants such as traces of old or pickled grain, fertiliser or rodent control measures.
To maintain grain quality, food safety and access to markets, Bunge has nil tolerance for contaminants, which are outlined in its receival standards.
With many farmers now growing both genetically modified (GM) and non-GM canola, it is increasingly important to uphold strong hygiene practices when storing, handling, transporting and harvesting GM canola, including thoroughly cleaning equipment. Farmers play an important role in ensuring there is no GM contamination of non-GM canola and assisting Bunge in maintaining separate supply chains to ensure access to premium markets.
When delivering, accurately declaring chemical application is essential to confirm grain complies with end use market requirements. Similarly, accurately declaring varieties ensures correct grading to meet specific end user needs.
Farmers are required to complete a delivery advice and declaration for each delivery to a Bunge site, which includes declaring chemical application and variety. It can be completed on the Bunge app through digital delivery advice or in a hard copy book available at Bunge sites.
To maintain market access for farmers grain, food safety and quality management is integrated into all Bunge’s operations. To ensure the company meets end use customers’ needs, Bunge’s processes involve routine testing for GM canola contamination, nil contaminants, chemical residues, and varietal purity.
Farmers can find more information about delivering to Bunge’s South Australian and western Victorian sites at viterra.com.au, which remains active for this harvest following the merger of Bunge and Viterra in July.