Dow AgroSciences Provides Aid to Flooded Australian Farming Communities

With three quarters of the state declared a disaster zone, the flooding in Queensland, Australia in late December 2010 and early January 2011 caused economic damage to many sectors of the state, including agriculture.

With efforts set up by a state farm group, AgForce, and a rural charity, Aussie Helpers, Dow AgroSciences donated $300,000 to the Queensland Farmers Appeal in January to help farmers rebuild their communities. The donation was made through the Dow AgroSciences philanthropic affiliate, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation.

“Dow AgroSciences provides innovative technologies for primary production and agricultural biotechnology to serve the world's growing population. This generous donation is their way to give back to the agricultural sector to rebuild farms and help reinvigorate Queensland’s role in feeding this global population,” said AgForce president Brent Finlay.

This donation was in addition to a previous donation of $200,000 that Dow AgroSciences donated to the Premier’s Flood Appeal which went to help with general flood relief.

Dow AgroSciences Marketing Manager, George Saville, said that since employees and customers were affected by the disastrous floods, the company knew something needed be done, and wanted to help the farming communities in any way they could. “We wanted to do something that would directly benefit affected farmers,” he said.

“It is important to know that the donation will be used wisely, and we knew it would be used effectively with the help of AgForce and Aussie Helpers,” said Tony Marshall, sales manager, Queensland and New South Wales.