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TQA Global Insights Award

This award will be announced at the conclusion of the Discussion Panel.

TQA

TQA Australia is a not for profit, independent leader in quality solutions for agri-business in the areas of food safety, quality assurance and environmental management. Their website is here

The Award

The TQA Global Insights Award recognizes Australian primary producers who exemplify a commitment to food safety, quality or environmental assurance systems in their business. Winners are presented with up to $10,000 AUD in an overseas travel grant, offering an opportunity to meet overseas producers and customers to strengthen and extend market understanding, relationships and business opportunities.

Jane Lovell, TQA Managing Director

As Managing Director of TQA Australia, Jane has comprehensive experience in effective project management and has strong leadership skills. She has a technical background in quality management, food safety and environmental management systems and has been involved in system development, implementation and training for more than 15 years.

Initially qualified as a Plant Pathologist, Jane developed and managed one of the first quality management systems in agribusiness in Australia she then became a private consultant and implemented SQF 2000 across fruit and vegetable producers, market agents, trucking companies and supermarkets.

Jane’s knowledge includes international market requirements through direct involvement with implementation and auditing of Tesco’s Nature’s Choice and Marks and Spencer’s Field to Fork. She has also undertaken many international market visits including Germany, UK, Japan, Malaysia, China, South Africa and India.

In 2008, Jane was awarded the “Outstanding Individual or Organisation Working in a Non-Industry Institution” at the HACCP Conference Awards and was awarded the 2009 RIRDC Tasmanian Rural Women’s Award. Jane was also selected in to participate in the Australian Rural Leadership Program

The Finalists

Tim Hunt

I am a relative newcomer to the Salmon Farming industry, taking on a role as Community Relations Coordinator with Tassal in March 2010. I am a passionate believer in strengthening communities, protecting the environment and responsibility in business.

I have had a varied career, working initially in the mining industry as a gold exploration geologist, and more recently as an operations manager in the telecommunications industry, most recently heading up a quality assurance and customer service coaching team for Vodafone. During my time at Vodafone, I took a board role with the Vodafone Australia Foundation where I was able to help to make a real difference in the community and for the environment through the company’s social investment programme.

When I finished with Vodafone, I made a commitment to myself that the next role I took on would be in service of the community and the environment, and when the opportunity to take up the role with Tassal surfaced I grasped it with both hands. At Tassal I feel empowered to make a difference, and help the company achieve its environment and sustainability goals.

It feels great to work for a company that wants to achieve its goals in a way that aligns with my personal beliefs and ambitions. When the opportunity came to apply for the TQA global insights award to help facilitate the implementation of an Australian salmon welfare standard, I received great support from the Tassal team about the idea, and I’m extremely excited to be a finalist in this programme.

About Tassal

Tassal has been farming Atlantic Salmon in Tasmania for the past 25 years, and is Australia’s largest salmon producer. Tassal are a vertically integrated company and operate hatcheries, sea farms and processing facilities in Tasmania.

The company employs over 650 Tasmanians, and looks to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate. Our company is focused on sustainability, with a dedicated Sustainability and Environment team. I am proud to work for a company that strives to operate in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.

Tassal has implemented an Integrated Management System through all of its business to focus on integrating key aspects of quality, environment and health and safety management so as to establish a common approach. The addition of a best practice animal welfare standard will help to complete the picture for us, and complement our existing quality standards.

Marcus Brandsema

J & A Brandsema Pty. Ltd. is a third generation family business that specializes in growing tomatoes. Initially growing many vegetable lines in 1958, the business now concentrates on growing cherry tomatoes and more recently, “Perino” style cherry tomatoes. In more recent years, J&A Brandsema Pty. Ltd. has been owned and operated by brothers Marcus and Anthony, whom have succeeded parents John and Anna, and have developed the company to where it is today.

The business supplies major and independent supermarkets, Tasmanian wholesalers and smaller shops and at times, supplies the central markets in Melbourne and Sydney. The Perino style tomatoes are sold exclusively to Coles, via Costas.

Currently the total production area is 1.2ha of poly greenhouse and glasshouse. There is also a nursery being developed on site for the production of plants for growing on in the larger greenhouses. All of the cherry tomatoes produced are packed on site.

The production of cherry tomatoes can be at around 30-35kg per square meter, or around 800,000 punnets p.a. with Perino tomatoes being around 23-25kg per square meter, or around 700,000 punnets p.a.

For heating there are two boilers on site, with LPG and sawdust being the energy source. The CO2 from the gas boiler is fed directly into the greenhouses to increase the rate of photosynthesis.

The business is proud to present quality tomatoes grown with a minimum of chemical application from the adoption of Integrated Pest Management, the latest in greenhouse design technology and management techniques. The business has always had dynamic approach to the aspect of growing in a sustainable way, continuously pursuing and taking advantage of industry developments.