Some of Australia’s leading thinkers, scientists and rural policy experts will today debate ways to confront global food security, climate change and slowing agricultural productivity, during a major panel discussion at the National Press Club in Canberra. Watch the discussion here via webstream at 12.45pm (AEDT).Here panel participant, Enzon Allara, outlines his case for greater investment in rural research and development.
As world leaders head to Copenhagen next month, back home we are left to consider the longer-term collision between climate change and agriculture productivity.
And it is some collision. There is much agreement climate change will put a dent in Australia’s agricultural productivity in a number of ways: through higher temperatures; longer droughts; more intense bushfires; less water; more extreme weather and the resulting spread of biosecurity threats.
In fact, there is modeling that suggests climate change will see global agricultural production fall 16 per cent by 2020 at a time when we need to be producing more, not less.
On the productivity front, our farmers have an outstanding track record out-performing most sectors of the Australian economy over the past 30 years.
But with the challenge of climate change, the only way the sector has any chance of maintaining this productivity performance is through the outcomes of rural R&D.
How do we meet these challenges?
First, governments must maintain focus on rural R&D investment. This is absolutely fundamental.
Second, we need to ensure that climate change research - adaptation and emissions mitigation – is embedded in the ongoing productivity research which is the bread and butter of rural research. This is essential as climate change research cannot be done in isolation.
Third, Australia must have the research capacity to put something on the table in international research forums and adapt innovations from overseas to local conditions.
Fourth, we must invest in our future scientific capacity and ensure there is a clear career path to attract new rural research scientists of all disciplines.
And of course, we must continue to evaluate our performance to ensure the research portfolio is optimising returns on investment.
Over the past 20 years it has been these scientists and farmers that together with government have driven a robust model of rural R&D that is based on industry levies and government funding.
Australia’s 16 RDCs conduct research across every part of Australian primary industry and have delivered substantial benefits to Australian agriculture and to the wider community. This collaborative model has helped us become one of the world’s largest agricultural export nations which in 2006-07 generated $27.8 billion.
It has delivered new technologies to our farmers who have a proven record of innovation and adaptation to volatile international markets and Australia’s variable climate.
For instance, in 2009, application of modern farming technology will see Australian grain growers harvest around 23 million tonnes of wheat, around 75 per cent of which will flow into export markets.
The breakthroughs are never front-page news but they all contribute to our industry and often have implications for world food supply. For example, the research into no-till farming which improved soil moisture retention and meant wheat could be grown in areas of lower rainfall, increasing volumes and productivity.
Minister Burke has said Australia needs as much agricultural R&D as it can afford. Right now, I believe that we need to be able to afford plenty of R&D. Our agricultural productivity depends on this.
* Enzo Allara is chairman of the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations Chairs.
Email a friend