The CSIRO Ag2050 Scenarios Report outlines trends, risks, opportunities and actions to support Australian farming systems into the future
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) says proactive measures are needed now to address threats to Australian farming, despite several years of recent high yield.
Some of the challenges outlined by CSIRO include climate change, future emissions reduction needs, supply chain disruptions, workforce access, changing consumer preferences, maintenance of market access and long innovation timelines.
In response to this, CSIRO has delivered its Ag2050 Scenarios Report through consultation and co-design with over 100 industry stakeholders.
Katherine Wynn, CSIRO Futures’ agriculture and food Lead, says the report underscores the critical need for proactive measures and should serve as a call to action for the agricultural sector.
“The decline in farm profitability over the last two decades is a stark warning sign, with projections indicating decline by up to 50 per cent in some areas by 2050,” she says.
“However, our research offers an optimistic outlook and indicates Australia can achieve productive, sustainable and resilient farming systems if we act now to facilitate long-term transformative change in agricultural innovation.”
The report presents four future evidence-based pathways for the Australian farming sector, painting a picture of what systems could look like by 2050.
– Regional Ag capitals – a consolidated and technologically advanced sector, thriving and prioritising food and fibre security.
– Landscape stewardship – a forward-thinking sector embracing new opportunities and novel technologies, allowing the environment to flourish.
– Climate survival – a sector focused on climate adaptation and incremental changes allowing it to survive.
– System decline – a sector failing to address growing challenges and at a tipping point.
“The four scenarios are designed to prompt collaborative conversations among industry, researchers, and other stakeholders to envision, deliberate and plan strategic actions for the future of farming we aspire to achieve,” Wynn says.
The Ag2050 Scenarios Report is the first phase of CSIRO’s Ag2050 program, a multi-year initiative aimed at identifying the interventions, innovations and support necessary for a productive, resilient, and sustainable future for Australian agriculture.