AUSTRALIA needs to have a debate about protection of agricultural land, according to National Farmers' Federation (NFF) chief executive Simon Talbot.
Mr Talbot was addressing the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia conference, in Melbourne, when asked about the proposed Shenhua coal mine, in New South Wales.
“We, as a nation need to have a reflection on prime agricultural land,” Mr Talbot said.
“If we have a national debate, logic starts to prevail.”
While he would not be drawn on the proposal, Mr Talbot said there were few agricultural producing countries, which didn’t have extra levels of protection for farming land.
“Are we going to jeopardise one of those prime agricultural areas for an operation which might only last 30-40 years?” he said.
Soil scientists had determined the land could be used for agriculture for tens of thousands of years.
“From a brand perspective, we see China and Japan are winding back on coal imports - on the other hand, they are winding up prime food imports,” he said.
Mr Talbot addressed machinery dealers and importers about their role in creating wealth through agriculture.
“Agriculture is the new black,” he said.
The biggest winner would be horticulture, as all forms could be grown in Australia.
“Australia is the only country that can grow that horticulture, pick it that morning, put it on a plane to Asia and serve it that night,” he said.
The eventual aim was to fly horticultural products out of 10-15 airports around Australia.
But he warned rigorous traceability was paramount if Australian agricultural products were to be accepted into Asian markets.
“If we can show a crop coming from a specific farm, how it has been managed on that farm, how it’s been processed and got customs clearance in China and when a consumer can see that in 4G technology, in real time, we have a game-changer.”
Products had to have the highest level of traceability in the market, he said.
“It has to be the most traceable in the market, or it will be counterfeited very quickly, and it then casts a dark halo over the whole industry.
“No counterfeiter can ever hope to trace that accountability system, if it is set up in the right way.”
Traceability was part of the True Aussie brand, to be launched into China next year, with meat products.
Testing of the slogan in North Asian languages had determined the word “true” was seen as trusted, pure and authentic, he said.
The other driver of productivity was technology, in particular telecommunications.
“We have to get online, we have to make sure all Australian farmers are connected, trained and educated on what is available.”
The NFF was working closely with NBN Co to ensure it had a farmer focus and priority.
“We want to be the best farmers in the world by making us the most digitally enabled farmers in the world,” Mr Talbot said.
