NO new money accompanied the Turnbull government’s $1.1 billion national innovation and science agenda announced this week, for the federal agricultural portfolio.
But National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) CEO Simon Talbot says the ambitious political statement marked the start of an important cultural shift for the Australian economy which had significant implications for the farm sector.
Mr Talbot said Australian agriculture had historically been a strong source of innovation, drawing on Australia’s world class public-private partnership model for agricultural research and must continue that agenda to maintain its international competitiveness.
“Agribusiness is at the beginning of an exciting growth period with surging demand for quality Australian produce in key export markets,” he said.
“The innovation developed within Australia is also considered to be world-leading and is adopted by agribusiness across the globe further reinforcing the need for continued and strong investment in this area.
“Bold new ideas will be required to continue to drive this leadership and to respond to the evolving demands placed on the sector in ways that continue to meet the needs of our customers while underpinning prosperity across the agricultural industries.”
Mr Talbot welcomed the announcement’s ambition to facilitate better commercialisation of innovative ideas and research outcomes for agriculture to help generate farm-ready technology.
But he said the NFF was also urging the government to recognise the potential for start-ups within the agriculture sector.
“The agriculture industry is teeming with entrepreneurs with ideas for new products, services and business models but we need to ensure that the best and most innovative new business ventures in the agricultural sector have access to the incentives announced this week,” he said.
The NFF is expected to make further announcements late this week about the science and innovation agenda in agriculture, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull launched the new science and innovation charter this week at CSIRO in Canberra with Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Christopher Pyne.
Various statements on those plans referred to agricultural initiatives at federal government level like the Rural R&D for Profit program, an election commitment of the Coalition government.
Work of the 15 rural research and development corporations (RDCs) which receive about $250 million each year to fund R&D programs were also highlighted and the role of Cooperative Research Centres, the CSIRO and universities.
Mr Pyne said for a couple of centuries Australia had been an economy based on mining, agriculture, education services and more recently, tourism and financial services.
But he said in future, the national economy needed to support all those areas and expand into the “ideas boom” which underpinned the science and innovation statement.
He said the comprehensive statement covered more than 24 different measures, including a new CSIRO innovation fund.
“We are particularly focussing on start-ups, on small and medium enterprises, on regional Australia, whether it's in agriculture or tourism or mining,” he said.
“We are using all the different parts of our economy to drive jobs and to drive growth because that's what the Australian public are looking for.”
Innovation, science 'core' to ag's success
CropLife Australia CEO Matthew Cossey said innovation and science was “core” to the future success and competitiveness of Australia’s agricultural sector which would benefit from the government’s new agenda.
“A truly productive and competitive agriculture sector that can sustainably contribute to food security in Australia and globally requires access to modern farming technologies, including agricultural biotechnology and crop protection products,” he said.
“It is also pleasing that the federal Opposition have shown an equal recognition of the importance and commitment to innovation with leader Bill Shorten announcing their future smart Australia policy last Friday.”
University of Sydney soil science professor Alex McBratney said those engaged in innovation in the agriculture and food sectors would welcome the government’s big statement.
“Through innovation, agriculture may turn out to be a digital leader and continue its 100-year run of continuous adaptation,” he said.
“The time is ripe for a completely new agriculture.”
Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce welcomed the new agenda’s focus on agricultural R&D and extension, saying it would bring renewed focus and vigour to Australia’s already robust research systems which had delivered sustained productivity gains to farmers for decades.
“As the driest inhabited continent on earth, we’ve continually had to farm smarter to get the most out of the land we’ve got,” he said.
“To meet the global food demands of the future, farming smarter must be at the core of all decisions we make.
“Boosting farm-gate returns is a core driver of the Coalition government and through encouraging commercialisation and adoption of good science into more innovative practices - and the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda - adds a further boost to our already robust agricultural R&D framework.”
