Increase in RD&E (Research, Development & Engineering) investment to address climate change issues and inclusion of agriculture in the national school curriculum are among the key priorities highlighted in the nation’s first agricultural blueprint, launched in Canberra last Thursday.
The inaugural document sets out key issues and solutions for the
agricultural sector to the year 2020 and beyond.
The document was presented by the National Farmers Federation
(NFF) in conjunction with a number of Blueprint partners and
identifies seven key areas which underpin the future success of
agriculture in Australia.
NFF president Jock Laurie says the Blueprint sets out the steps
for the agricultural sector to take to ensure a strong future
ahead.
“It has been developed as a result of input from almost 4,000
people across the agricultural sector, who identified the key
challenges, opportunities and potential solutions to the issues we
face,” he says.
“It is an ambitious plan that identifies seven critical areas in
which action must happen now to ensure we are well placed in the
future: Innovation, Research, Development and Extension;
Competitiveness; Trade and Market Access; People; Agriculture in
Society; Natural Resources and Transformational Issues.”
Among the key priorities highlighted by Blueprint participants,
RD&E funding takes one of the top spots.
Laurie says participants have called for better research funding
to help improve productivity growth and address issues like the
changing climate.
“This is long overdue, with investment in rural R&D
stagnating since the mid-1970s,” he says.
Inclusion of agriculture in the national school curriculum is
also high up on the agenda, which participants hope will help build
greater understanding of agriculture and encourage more students to
seek careers in the sector.
“And the need to build strong, positive relationships with the
wider community is seen as critical, underpinning much of our
future success,” Laurie says.
Other priorities highlighted in the inaugural document include
calls for upgrades in critical infrastructure and a reduction in
red tape to maintain the agriculture sector’s competitiveness.
Completion of key free-trade (FTA) agreements like the Korean FTA
is also on the wish list in order to secure market access.
Environmental sustainability is another priority addressed on
Thursday.
“Ensuring environmental sustainability is improved, promoted and
rewarded right across the sector has emerged as a key opportunity,
along with improving preparedness for extreme climatic events like
the bushfires and floods we have seen across five Australian states
in the past month,” Laurie adds.
“And making sure the agricultural sector is well placed to
respond to future uncertainties is a key component of the
Blueprint, ensuring the sector remains diverse, resilient and
adaptive to change.”
Full and summarised versions of the report are available for
download on the Federation’s Blueprint web page. The Blueprint is an
initiative of the NFF in conjunction with Westpac, Woolworths and
DAFF.
The NFF will be conducting a series of forums this year, with
aims to bring the agricultural sector together to drive the
Blueprint forward.