June 22, 2026
There was hope in the air at the end of Friday’s Ag Horizons Forum in Kingaroy, with growers leaving Kingaroy Town Hall with ideas about how to reinvigorate the local peanut industry.
About 140 people – including current and former peanut growers from the South Burnett and Bundaberg regions – attended the event.
Former South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell, who helped to promote the forum, said the speakers had provided valuable insights and practical ideas that could form the foundation of a growth strategy for the industry.
A survey would now be sent out to growers, and there were hopes that planning could begin for a new organisation to support the industry.
While the future of the peanut industry was a major focus of attention, pressures on the general farming industry were also discussed, including supermarket power, global trade agreements and the lowering of import standards.
Member for Maranoa David Littleproud touched on some of these topics during his opening address (see audio link, below)
Agribusiness professor Derek Baker, economics lecturer Mark McGovern and Ben Lyons – executive director of USQ’s Institute for Agriculture, Climate and Environment – also shared their expertise from the stage.
Other speakers included Dr Graeme Wright, who has worked as a research scientist in the peanut industry for 40 years, and Kumbia farmer Peter Howlett who was part of the forum’s organising committee.
Former PCA managing director Bob Hansen also spoke from the floor of the meeting.
Queensland Food Farmers Commissioner Rachel Chambers was the keynote speaker, with her speech especially touching on on-farm costs, the processing, transport and supply chain; the importation of raw peanuts and the need for imported peanuts to be tested for both cadmium and aflatoxin.
Speaking after the forum, Mr Campbell said he was confident there was an opportunity to revive the peanut industry, making it stronger and more resilient.
He said the forum was just the start of a conversation that must involve growers, processors, marketers and other partners in the supply chain.
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