Mara Seeds Pty Ltd, Mallanganee, NSW

History Mara Seeds Pty Ltd is a family owned business which has been growing and developing since 1967. Located 50 kms west of Casino in northern NSW Mara Seeds is involved in the production, processing and marketing of a range of organic products from oilseeds to grass seeds which are value added for specific markets. Initially a processing facility was built to handle soybeans. Mara Seeds was a pioneer soybean grower in northern NSW, being the second farming operation to ever grow soybean on the Far North Coast. In addition to our strong soy industry links the business has developed a strong position for temperate and sub tropical grass seeds and cereal crops in domestic and export markets, based on innovative niche quality led strategies. It was in the mid 1990’s that management identified the diminishing returns on artificial fertiliser and chemical systems and increased costs, both financially and health related. In 1996 management changed its approach to an organic farming system to allow for the development of niche specialised products and also to cater for the growing organic culinary soybean and beef markets in Australia, with the view to expand overseas as the market developed. Mara Seeds Pty Ltd gained certification with the Biological Farmers Association (BFA) and to date have a company that deals in products free from harmful pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and artificial fertilisers. In 1997 the company saw an opportunity to develop a composting facility to produce organic compost and biological tea products for use on-site as well as for commercial sales. The compost and biological tea to date has yielded tremendous results in several vegetable and cropping programs. Mara Seeds continues to build and develop organic products for domestic and export markets with the view of promoting the Australian Organic Industry.