For Australian agriculture to meets its enormous potential, the government must play a key role in supporting research and development, and collaboration, an international expert has said.
Dr Aalt Dijkhuizen is a former president and chairman of Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands, and has extensive international experience in science and private industry.
During his visit to Australia this week, he said agriculture needed a close collaboration between the “golden triangle” of government, private industry and universities and research institutes.
“Australia does not give its agri-food sector the merit it deserves in terms of its place in the economy’s future development,” Dr Dijkhuizen said.
“It’s not a new message that in the next 30 to 40 years the same amount of food has to be produced as during the past 8000 years. Moreover, increasing wealth in formerly poorer countries will mean a strong increase in the global demand for safely produced high-quality protein.
“I see this as a tremendous opportunity rather than a doomsday scenario.”
Dr Dijkhuizen said innovation was needed in the agri-food sector that resulted in ‘doing more with less’ through improved efficiency, and through product development that worked for the economy and the environment.
“Based on overseas experience I believe Australia could accelerate food security and export outcomes with improved co-operation at the highest level among government, private industry and knowledge institutes; comprising the 'golden triangle’, which would be best encouraged through more government support for research and development (R&D) and collaboration,” he said.
“This partnership culture is not as evident in Australia as I have seen in other countries. While this culture is immensely beneficial, it doesn’t happen automatically and there is a strong role needed from government to stimulate policies and projects in which all three partners benefit.”
Last year, Dr Dijkhuizen became president of the Dutch Topsector Agri and Food, a collaboration and innovation network between government, private industry and universities and research institutes.
Since then, he has established the Holland Centre in Shanghai to support Dutch agrifood companies doing business in China.
“The Australian R&D community and academic institutions are world class but I am not sure Australia currently has the necessary alignment of all major stakeholders involved outside of the ‘cooperative research centre’ model, which is limited by its domestic focus and short term nature,” he said.
“Successful partnerships need to be at a very senior level, selective and international and intended to last long term.”
Dr Dijkhuizen also said sustainable food systems would need to become more intensified; including using high technology greenhouses, breeding technologies, biotechnology, high tech management such as precision farming and new raw materials such as insects and algae protein for food, feed and fuel.