Farming Australia’s future food production – a farmers perspective

Angus Gidley-Baird Policy Director

NSW Farmers’ Association

The commentary

•Global food demand to increase by 70% by 2050. •Majority of the growth centred in Asia •Rapid increase in livestock meat, milk, eggs and vegetable oils as sources of food calories •Commercial opportunities for food exporting countries such as Australia

Value of Australian Exports

Source: ABARES

Australian per capita consumption of selected agricultural commodities

Source: ABARES

Historical scale of selected agricultural commodities in NSW

Source: ABS

Farm production

Source: ABARES

Australian farm returns

Source: ABARES

Areas to work of for profitability in farming •Biosecurity •Infrastructure and logistics •Access to finance •Trade and marketing •Productivity •Workforce and skills development •Land use competition

Biosecurity

•Education and capacity building •Establish clear cost sharing arrangements •Place high value in maintaining biosecurity status

Infrastructure and logistics

•Private investment •Public private ventures •Develop a comprehensive transport infrastructure plan

Access to finance

•Reducing risks •Improving returns •Identifying alternative business structures •Provide certainty for foreign investment

Trade and Marketing

•Work constructively with supply chain stakeholders •Build and maintain relationships with interest groups •Trade agreements •Food labelling •Address market power

Productivity

•Leveraging of the Research and Development Corporations •Greater engagement of research •Comprehensive database of industry research

Workforce and skills development

•Foster skills development •Ensure training is accessible, relevant and affordable •Incorporating food and fibre production into the curriculum •Work collaboratively on work health and safety

Land use competition

•Promote mutually beneficial outcomes •Protect prime agricultural land •Work collaboratively for beneficial planning outcomes

Thank you

Angus Gidley-Baird Policy Director

NSW Farmers’ Association