Balco accompanied the South Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, Hon. Joe Szakacs MP, and the Department for State Development (DSD) as part of the official South Australian delegation to World Expo 2025 Japan. The mission reaffirmed Balco’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and expanding South Australia’s global export footprint.
World Expo 2025, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” brought together global leaders across technology, food, energy, and innovation. For South Australia, it served as a platform to showcase the state’s capabilities in clean, green food production, advanced traceability systems, and sustainable farming models.
As one of Australia’s largest and most awarded exporters of Oaten Hay, Balco proudly represented the strength of South Australian agribusiness on the world stage.
In conjunction with the Expo, Balco hosted an exclusive industry seminar in Tokyo, in close collaboration with the South Australian Government and DSD. The seminar brought together senior representatives from Japan’s dairy farming, livestock feed, trade, and agri-import sectors.
The event provided a valuable platform to:
- Deepen Balco’s longstanding partnerships in Japan.
- Highlight innovations in oaten hay quality and feed nutrition.
- Explore joint initiatives on sustainability and food security.
Anthony Yandell, Group Sales Manager Balco Australia, delivered a keynote presentation titled “Fostering Growth, Nurturing Futures: Balco’s Vision for Sustainable Dairy Supply Chains.” He detailed Balco’s end-to-end traceability, world-class food safety systems, and science-backed approach to animal nutrition. He also emphasised Balco’s partnerships with Australian growers across South Australia, Western Australia, and Victoria, and the company’s growing global footprint in Japan, Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Hideki Matsuo, Sales Representative Balco Australia, provided insights into the characteristics that make Australian Oaten Hay a superior choice for Japanese dairy operations:
- High WSC (water-soluble carbohydrate) for fermentable energy.
- Low potassium levels for reproductive health.
- Soft, sweet-smelling texture to boost palatability.
Compatibility with alfalfa for balanced rations and rumen stability.
A highlight was Balco’s focus on sustainability; solar power generation at all three production sites, organic farming practices, and its collaborative research with the University of Melbourne into methane emission reduction and improved forage digestibility.
The seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A session and networking reception, during which several Japanese partners expressed interest in further site visits, joint R&D, and long-term hay supply agreements.
Balco’s participation in Japan supports South Australia’s international standing as a source of high-quality, reliable, and sustainably produced agricultural goods.
