An Australian agricultural industry leader has told a Melbourne forum quality and the digital revolution must drive the sector.
Australian Rural Leadership Foundation chief executive Matt Linnegar was opening the second annual AgriVictoria State of Opportunity summit.
“I am not so sure it simply lies in producing more – we know that demand for protein, particular in the Indo-Asian region, is positive - particularly for exporting nations, like Australia - but that doesn’t mean you can have a walk up start,” Mr Linnegar, a former head of the National Farmers Federation (NFF), said.
Countries like Brazil were gaining more market share, than Australia had, in some areas.
“Healthy, safe products, for higher end consumers, I believe is the pathway, most likely to achieve success.”
But Mr Linnegar said productivity was flagging, behind some of Australia’s major competitors.
“We know the digital revolution must be part of our response and quality must be part of what we do.”
And Treasurer Tim Pallas said Victoria was the country’s most productive agricultural state.
He said Victorian’s had a strong sense of ownership, for a sector which had contributed so much to the state.
“Agriculture is one of the pillars on which this state is built, Victoria has just three per cent of Australian land, but accounts for 30pc of Australia’s agricultural production,” Mr Pallas told guests.
“The industrial revolution has swept through Asia, it’s a change that’s helping create the world’s largest markets for our agricultural sector.
“It suggests the Asian century, will also be the Victorian century.”
But he said the area he represented in state parliament, Werribee, showed one of the challenges facing agriculture.
“It’s a clear indication of some of the challenges that agriculture faces, the interaction between every expanding population, and the recognition the value this industry provides to our state, which we dare not risk squandering.”
