PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australian junior miners operating in Africa were set to benefit from a newly minted cooperation agreement between the Australia-Africa Mining Industry Group (AAMIG) and the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA).

“This relationship will directly benefit African mining and exploration companies seeking to achieve positive and functional community engagement and development through agriculture,” said AAMIG CEO Trish O’Reilly.

“AAMIG members will now have direct access to DAFWA’s international consultancy arm, and can leverage specialist knowledge and technical services in finding solutions for issues such as biosecurity, quarantine and supply chain systems, crop diversification and productive capacity.”

She pointed out that junior mining companies were frequently hindered by a lack of internal resources and funding, and could not solve all the social and economic issues in the vicinity of their operations.

“Better results are likely to be achieved by building strategic alliances such as this one – developing more of a team Australia approach to investing in Africa,” O’Reilly said.

The DAFWA’s international consulting arm, dubbed AGWEST Food Security, has a long history of working with developing nations over 40 years, in 30 countries, including countries in Africa, O’Reilly noted.

DAFWA director-general Rob Delane said AGWEST Food Security offered a diverse range of services, drawing on the expertise of specialist agribusiness, academia and DAFWA staff.

“Highly qualified personnel with extensive experience in biosecurity and food safety systems, sustainable agriculture development, natural resource management and community development are available,” he said.

“AGWEST Food Security works in partnership with private enterprise, government agencies, international funding agencies and nongovernment organisations in Africa, as well as the Middle East and Asia.”

In recent years the consultancy has worked on African projects in Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Botswana.

Delane said there were synergies between the agriculture and mining sector, which could be enhanced for mutual benefit.

“Food security and safety has long been a challenge for developing nations, affecting health, education and the economy,” he said.

“AGWEST Food Security can provide the mining sector with access to specialists – on site if necessary – to work with clients to provide solutions to issues such as improving biosecurity, quarantine and supply chain systems, building community resilience to drought and natural disasters, and enhancing crop diversification and productive capacity.”