McLachlan then went on to justify why they think that the current revenue-sharing mechanism is mutually beneficial, and how the farmers have received major benefits from the investments they have made to improve the industry:
Malcolm "Mac" McLachlan, VP, International Relations, ASR/BSI
"We, of course, have invested heavily in the Port of Big Creek to ensure that those efficiencies are being through to the industry as a whole, including the farmers. I heard last night on the news the BSCFA chairman suggesting that we were incorrect with the figures we presented. I can confirm to you that through that investment at Big Creek, farmers saved 3.1 million dollars during the cane crop that's just passed. That equates to an increase in cane prices of $2.70 per tonne of cane. And similar to our investments in added value direct consumption sugars. We made those investments for and on behalf of the entire industry. We invested, but everybody would share that benefit through the value-share agreements. So, the actual figure for that - because I've heard conjecture in the media as well that farmers get nothing from this. In the last crop, 21, farmers earned an additional $4.96 per tonne of cane because of the increased production of direct consumption sugars. We hear from BSCFA that - they often say that the deductions for the manufacturing allowances are a contribution to the cost of these sugars, which are much more expensive to produce, to bag. It's going up. But, what's not said is that the revenue received from that is higher still. So, even after paying the manufacturing allowance, farmers are still earning, on average for the last four years, an additional 3 dollars and 30 cents per tonne of cane than would have been the case if we were just selling raw sugar. So, all these strategic investments have been to grow the pie, to make it better for everybody. The mill is not in a position to suddenly transfer a huge amount of money, and we've said all the way along. We can look at other formulas as long as it doesn't disadvantage either side. And that remains our position."
