Securing Australia’s Future
SAF07: Australia’s Agricultural Future
Agriculture is an important part of the Australian economy and an area of significant comparative advantage.
Agriculture can post major successes in developing and adopting innovations and new technologies particularly in dry land cropping, pasture-based production systems and biosecurity arrangements that protect against pest and disease incursions. The essence of our comparative advantage is our reputation as a producer of clean, green, safe, affordable, sustainable and ethical food and other agricultural products. Optimising production whilst maintaining our unique capacity and reputation both nationally and internationally is the critical challenge that will be explored by this study.
“In a world of constant change, science and innovation are crucial to Australian agriculture today and will be even more important tomorrow”
Professor Ian Chubb
Launch of the Australia’s Agricultural Future
Australia’s Agricultural Future, launched by Professor Ian Chubb AC FTSE at the CSIRO Discovery Centre on 27 July 2015.
A transcript of Professor Ian Chubb’s Speech from the report launch is available.
Expert Working Group
ACOLA, for its established ability to deliver interdisciplinary evidence-based research that draws on specialist expertise from Australia’s Learned Academies, convenes the SAF07 Expert Working Group (EWG) to guide the development of a targeted study that draws input from several disciplines to create a well-considered, balanced and peer-reviewed report.
The role of the EWG is to provide strategic oversight and provide expert input, analysis and provocative thinking.
| Dr Joanne Daly (Chair) | Professor Kym Anderson (Deputy) |
| Professor Rachel Ankeny | Professor Graham Farquhar |
| Professor Bronwyn Harch | Professor John Rolfe |
| Professor Richard Waterhouse |
Authors
| Dr Joanne Daly | Professor Kym Anderson |
| Professor Rachel Ankeny | Professor Bronwyn Harch |
| Dr Andrew Hastings | Professor John Rolfe |
| Professor Richard Waterhouse |
Peer Reviewers
This report has been reviewed by an independent panel of experts. Members of this review panel were not asked to endorse the Report’s conclusions and findings. The Review Panel members acted in a personal, not organisational, capacity and were asked to declare any conflicts of interest.
ACOLA gratefully acknowledges their contribution.
| Professor Kate Darian Smith | Dr Tony Fischer |
| Professor Deirdre Lemerle | Douglas John Rathbone |
Project Funding and Support
ACOLA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Australian Government through the Commonwealth Science Council; Australian Research Council and the Office of the Chief Scientist. This research was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council.
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Acknowledgements
The Expert Working Group wishes to acknowledge the contribution of Professor R. Quentin Grafton, Dr John Mullen, Dr John Williams, Professor Stewart Lockie and The Centre for International Economics for their work in producing the foundation material for this report. The contribution of material for various break-out boxes is also gratefully acknowledged, as listed under Evidence Gathering.
The contributions of all of the attendees at the early to mid-career agricultural producers and researchers workshop (as listed under Evidence Gathering) is also gratefully acknowledged, along with the valuable facilitation provided by Mike Williams.
The Expert Working Group also acknowledges the work of Professor Linda Botterill in editing the report and adding additional material relating to public policy areas.
Project management services were provided by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering — Dr Andrew Hastings and Dr Matt Wenham — on behalf of ACOLA Secretariat. These contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
The Expert Working Group thanks Dr Will Howard, Office of the Chief Scientist, for guidance and advice throughout the project, and the ACOLA Secretariat for their assistance.
Project Management Support
| Dr Andrew Hastings, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering |
| Dr Matt Wenham, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering |
| Project services provided by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering on behalf of ACOLA |
Contributing Reports
Reports commissioned or specially undertaken for Securing Australia’s Future: Australia’s agricultural future (SAF07)
- Drivers of demand for Australian agricultural products (PDF), The Centre for International Economics, January 2015
- Australia’s agricultural future: returns, resources and risks (PDF), R. Quentin Grafton, John Mullen and John Williams, 8 May 2015
- Australia’s agricultural future: the social and political context (PDF), Prof Stewart Lockie, 2015
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