Celebrating Decades of Innovation and Adaptability
Kingaroy’s pulse and niche grain processor, Bean Growers Australia (BGA), commemorates its 60th anniversary this year. Originating from the local growers’ initiative to process and sell navy beans in South Burnett, BGA has transitioned through significant changes, embracing diversification to meet the evolving needs of growers, buyers, and the agricultural market.
Initially established as a cooperative in 1964, BGA transitioned to a limited company with shareholders in 2000. Over the years, it has emerged as one of Australia’s largest pulse processors, supplying ingredients to both local and international companies. Today, BGA processes a variety of pulses and grains, including popping corn, mungbeans, soybeans, and adzuki beans.
From Navy Beans to a Diverse Crop Portfolio
BGA’s journey began with the cultivation of navy beans, a staple crop introduced during World War II at the request of the US Government. By the 1950s and early 1960s, hundreds of navy-bean growers operated in South Burnett, with crops marketed through a board and transported to Brisbane for processing.
Seeking to enhance efficiency, local growers, with assistance from the Peanut Company of Australia, formed a cooperative. By the mid-1970s, they had built a comprehensive processing facility in Kingaroy.
However, changing market demands and weather conditions around the turn of the century prompted BGA to diversify. The millennium drought, coupled with corporate mergers and manufacturing shifts, reduced the demand for navy beans. Consequently, BGA expanded into other crops, such as mungbeans, adzuki beans, popping corn, and soybeans, alongside smaller volumes of white chickpeas, linseed, and black-eyed cowpea.
Adapting to Market Needs and Exploring New Ventures
BGA’s ability to adapt has been a cornerstone of its success. Today, it sources crops from diverse regions, including adzuki beans from Yarrawonga in Victoria, mungbean seeds from the Ord in Western Australia, popping corn and soybeans from the Burdekin in North Queensland, and popping corn from Central Queensland.
BGA’s innovative spirit extends to new business opportunities. In the early 1980s, the company ventured into operating rural merchandise stores, expanding to about 10 or 12 outlets before selling this segment in 2012. Recently, BGA has invested in the retail market, producing microwaveable popcorn under the Popbox brand through Scarecrow Foods, of which BGA is a significant shareholder.
Additionally, in late 2023, BGA achieved BRCGS Global Food Safety certification, demonstrating its commitment to high food safety standards.
Looking Ahead
As BGA celebrates 60 years of growth and diversification, it continues to focus on quality and adaptability, ensuring its longevity and relevance in the agricultural industry. The company’s evolution from a navy bean processor to a major player in the pulse and niche grain market exemplifies its resilience and innovative approach.
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