Australia has secured additional supplies of urea from Southeast Asia, while a raft of biosecurity changes is designed to speed up farmers’ access to these vital products
The federal government has announced a deal with Indonesia to help increase fertiliser availability for farmers.
An additional 250,000 tonnes of urea – which facilitates around 20 per cent of what is still needed for the current season – will be heading to Australia after a deal was done between Incitec Pivot Fertilisers and PT Pupuk Indonesia.
Incitec Pivot Limited president Scott Bowman says this is a “crucial contribution to securing inputs” for Australian farmers.
“This additional volume for the period May to December, at prevailing market prices, is another critical plank in servicing the needs of Australian farmers,” Bowman says.
“Whilst there is more work to do to ensure farmers requirements can be fully met this upcoming season, this additional volume will go a long way to shoring up critical supplies to Australian farmers.”
The deal, which was supported by both Australian and Indonesian governments, has been described by prime minister Anthony Albanese as a “significant outcome for our farmers”.
Albanese also visited the Southeast Asian country of Brunei, which supplies about 11 per cent of Australia’s fertiliser-grade urea imports.
He had “very positive discussions” about increasing the volume of urea which can be supplied to Australia.
The federal government has also announced “streamlined border processes” for imported fertiliser which will “reduce costs, reduce port clearance times, lower administrative burdens and ensure the safety of fertiliser prior to shipping”.
These changes include certification from an authorised inspector offshore that the goods are free of biosecurity risk material for all imports, a requirement for importers using higher risk pathways to provide a bagged sample for prior inspection by a biosecurity officer, and simplified offshore entity registration and streamlined onshore compliance inspections.
Fertilizer Australia consulted with the government on these changes, with both parties emphasising they do not compromise Australia’s biosecurity.
“We understand how important fertiliser is for Australian farmers and our food production system,” federal agriculture minister Julie Collins says.
“We have engaged closely with industry to establish these changes, and appreciate Fertilizer Australia’s commitment to practical collaboration and problem solving.
“The government will never compromise on biosecurity, but this is a sensible way to streamline the robust systems in place to help get the fertiliser we need faster.”
