THE technology used on farms in the Bowen region has impressed a high-level Japanese delegation, who say they can learn a lot from the region's farming practices.
Japan's parliamentary vice minister for agriculture, Susumu Hamamura, was among the group of officials who spent time in the region this week.
The group toured the farm of well known local identify and Bowen-Gumlu Grower's Association president Carl Walker, who was recently named Queensland's first #eatqld champion, a state government initiative designed to promote the benefits of eating locally grown produce.
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Mr Hamamura said he was impressed with what he saw during the visit.
"I am impressed that you use a lot of technology to conduct agriculture," Mr Hamamura said.
"Japanese agriculture has a lot to learn from Australian agriculture."
Mr Hamamura also met young agriculture graduates from Japan who are living and studying in the Whitsunday region as part of the ground-breaking Japanese Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC) program.
The graduate program is the first of its kind for Australia, with Japan having previously sent students to the US and Europe to undertake their international studies.
The nine students are living and working in Bowen for 12 months to get experience working on both large scale and more compact fruit and vegetable farms.
"I am sure that their experience here will be very valuable," Mr Hamamura said.
Mr Walker said it was important to have the vice minister from Japan visiting the region.
"We grow some wonderful vegetables during winter. I think we can build a lovely relationship between ourselves and our Japanese friends." Mr Walker said.
"There's huge potential here for joint ventures."
Agricultural Minister, Mark Furner, said it was important to continue to build on Queensland's trade relationship with Japan.
"This is a very important occasion to make sure we have that trade relationship with Japan to make sure our produce gets in to countries such as Japan itself," Mr Furner said.
"Visits like this one build on the relationships we forged during our trade mission to Japan last year.
"Stronger relationships and more trade in great Queensland produce mean more jobs in regional Queensland."
Whitsunday Regional Council mayor, Andrew Wilcox, said the visit was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the region's $450m horticultural crop.
- This story first appeared on the North Qld Register.
