Kalyn Fletcher: Business Manger, RB Dessert Seeds

Kalyn believes “Tropical agriculture is the future for Australian agriculture. It will be the catalyst to develop northern Australia and boost employment and investment in remote and rural communities.”

From Kununurra, Kalyn grew up on her family farm in the Ord Irrigation Area. Kalyn and her husband moved back to Kununurra 10 years ago, raising three young boys and now managing the family businesses established by her father. With a background in agricultural science and agribusiness, she has experienced first-hand the unique challenges that businesses face in tropical agriculture.

RB Dessert Seed Co. is focused on wholesale seed production for crops such as hybrid sorghum, hybrid maize, herbs and vegetables. The company supplies seed to growers across the Ord Irrigation Area and the wider Kimberley Region. Kalyn’s other family venture, the Hoochery Distillery, produces of international award winning rum and liqueurs.

Kalyn works closely with industry on new crop development, producing seed and conducting research trials for many emerging crop species. In addition to this, she has implemented a sorghum breeding program which focuses on the production of forage sorghum varieties suited to tropical conditions.

Kalyn believes that tropical agriculture will play an ever increasing role in Australia’s agricultural dynamics. As climatic conditions change, Australia will look to shift more of its agriculture production to areas of more abundant and secure water, like northern Australia. Tropical agriculture encompasses all agriculture production in the tropics be it beef, horticulture or grain production.