August 25, 2004
Australia Warned To Produce Lower Quality Wheat
The world's largest flour miller has issued another warning for Australian wheat growers.
The vice-president of Indonesia's Bogasari Flour Mills says his country wants cheaper, lower grade grain, which can be easily produced by European countries.
Australia has built a reputation for supplying high quality, rather than lower grade, grain.
Budianto Wijaya is touring South Australia and Western Australia for the next fortnight to deliver this message.
"I don't know when it will end.
"Firstly, if the economics improve and the buying power comes back, then people will of course choose quality over price.
"At the end we have to calculate, because the market demands very cheap prices, and competitions can provide that kind of price; we have to survive and find ways to cut costs."
