Calder told Xinhua that he had spoken with representatives of the WA Farmers Federation, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association and the Australian Farm Institute.
"Without exception, all were seeking overseas investment, including Chinese investment, to help tackle the many serious challenges facing our agriculture and agribusiness sector," he said, adding "All parts of the sector need transformation. Some parts need transfusion."
He also said that "Such positive, unified support for Chinese investment unfortunately does not appear to be deemed to be as newsworthy as the more extreme and negative positions taken by some."
The Ord expansion covers more than 15,000 hectares of land in a region desperate for an injection of capital.
Last month Opposition frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull told Xinhua that Australian agriculture would benefit from increased investment and had for decades suffered without it.
"We have to understand, as Premier (Colin) Barnett (Western Australia) said that the vast bulk of Chinese investment in Australia has been from state-owned corporations we need that investment its creating jobs in Australia, its deepening our engagement with China - and that's very important - and benefiting all enterprises; both Chinese and Australian - whether they're privately owned or in China's case, state-owned."
Turnbull, the former Opposition Leader and a highly-respected businessman in his own right with a track record of successful ventures with Chinese enterprise, described agriculture as critical to the Australian economy and identity.
'Gangnam style' life of young rich in Chongqing
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