If the agriculture sector wants to take advantage of high value niche opportunities in global markets, a more rapid uptake and leverage of innovation is a must, a leading market expert said today.
Mr Craig Swanger, chief investment officer for Engenious Private Equity said Australia must move rapidly to exploit the opportunities created by the trade deal with China.
“International competition is fierce. Australia has a very strong global reputation for high quality food and fibre, but innovation is essential to identify the most prospective niche products and to efficiently get product to market,” Mr Swanger said ahead of the national launch of NSW Farmers’ AgInnovators in Sydney.
“A web portal like AgInnovators.org.au can help focus the discussion and enable people along the supply chain to narrow down opportunities."
The new portal is an initiative of NSW Farmers and focuses on modernising the Australian food and fibre industry. It is supported by CSIRO, Rabobank, National ICT Australia (NICTA) and Food Innovation Australia.
NSW Farmers’ chief executive officer Matt Brand said taking advantage of the Australia-China trade deal depended upon increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of the entire agricultural value chain.
“Australian agriculture is at a turning point. The potential arising from new markets and new technology is huge. Old thinking, and farmers staying on their side of the farmgate, won’t cut it. Everyone in the industry must embrace change and work collaboratively to build the brand and restore local food and fibre manufacturing,” he said.
Digital technology has opened new opportunities to improve the efficiency and sustainability of Australian agriculture, as increasingly demanded by customers.
NSW Farmers is working with farmers and representative organisations nationally to help the sector prepare for this future.
The association expects AgInnovators to become the place to go for news and information on breakthrough research and innovative strategies and announcements within agriculture.
