FTA accelerates growth with new CEO and Board.

David Matthews, Prudence Cook, Andrew Smith, Haley Tudor-Harrop, Catherine Marriott and John Bennett - Farm Trade Australia

Farm Trade Australia (FTA), the farmer-owned agribusiness committed to improving the competitiveness of Australian farm businesses, has significantly stepped up its investment into rural communities.

Leading this next chapter is the appointment of Andrew Smith as Chief Executive Officer. Andrew brings extensive experience in agricultural business leadership, market development and strategic growth, and will drive FTA’s mission to unlock new opportunities for farmers through collaboration, innovation, and commercial integrity.

Supporting Andrew is FTA’s Board of Directors, led by western Victorian farmer John Bennett, along with a group of highly respected industry leaders: Prudence Cook, Catherine Marriott, and FTA founder David Matthews. Their collective knowledge will guide FTA as it delivers projects that create real outcomes for members, partners, and rural communities.

Since its launch in 2021, FTA has been diligently working to build out its foundations and strategy. That work is now coming to life through bold new initiatives, including:

• High-Amylose Wheat Project: FTA is collaborating with Arista Cereal Technologies (a CSIRO & Limagrain JV), Allied Pinnacle Flour Mills and Australian Grain Technologies on the commercialisation of HAW1, a premium product with significant consumer benefits. Wheat for the Australian market is milled by Allied Pinnacle in Melbourne and, in December last year, the first bulk shipment was exported to Nisshin Flour Milling in Japan, a major step toward establishing a direct market pathway for Australian growers.

• Naked Barley Project: FTA is partnering with the University of Sydney to assess the commercial potential of naked barley, a nutrient-dense grain with promising agronomic traits. Field trials are underway at Narrabri (NSW) and Inverleigh (VIC) to evaluate its performance in Australian farming systems.

• Self-Sufficient Farms Project: This project explores a future where farms are energy self-sufficient, generating, storing and managing their own renewable energy on-farm to cut costs, build resilience and improve long-term sustainability.

“It’s an exciting time to be stepping into Farm Trade Australia,” said CEO Andrew Smith. “Farmers are looking for new ways to stay competitive, manage risk, and capture value from their production. FTA has been quietly building in the background, and we’re now ready to roll out projects that deliver real commercial outcomes while strengthening the resilience of our farming communities for the future.”

“Farm Trade Australia exists to help farmers shape their own future,” Andrew Smith said. “By connecting farm businesses with commercial partners, research and investment, we can unlock opportunities that individual farmers can’t always access alone, creating value that flows back into rural communities.”

Board Chair John Bennett said “Andrew brings a rare combination of commercial expertise, a strong understanding of agriculture and, through his previous role as a senior executive with Rural Bank, a deep commitment to rural communities. He is down to earth, highly respected, and has a proven ability to deliver commercial outcomes while building lasting relationships. We are thrilled to announce his appointment, and his leadership will drive real value for our farmers and rural communities.”