Australia’s leading science agency outlines future farming needs to stay resilient and sustainable

A new report from Australia’s leading science agency outlines the steps needed to ensure Australia’s farming stays resilient and sustainable.

Earlier this month CSIRO, in collaboration with the university of Queensland, released its first national stocktake of the country’s food systems — part of the agency’s Food System Horizons initiative.

The report urged a new approach to managing and reporting the nation’s food systems to be more resilient to the challenges farmers face today.

With the country’s 100,000 farmers delivering more than $800 billion worth of produce, feeding around 100 million people across the globe, sustaining Australia’s food systems remains a vital priority, according to the report.

However, CSIRO’s report reveals the costs farmers face are the highest in the world for ensuring animal welfare and human health, tacking biodiversity loss, limiting greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the degradation of water, air and soil resources.

The total “hidden costs” could be as high as $274 billion, according to the report, with the main figures coming from environmental and health impact.

CSIRO sustainability research director Larelle McMillan said food policy in Australia was fragmented across portfolios as diverse as agriculture, environment, industry, social services, health, transport and urban planning.

“We need to move from analysing specific parts of the food system, to establishing coordinated reporting for important food system attributes and interactions, thus enabling connected-up action for a national food system that serves all,” she said.

CSIRO agriculture and food director Dr Michael Robertson said knowing and understanding the state of foods system through regular reporting was a critical first step in dealing with challenges and opportunities.

“Our food system is more than just producing and exporting commodities — it’s also about providing equitable access to safe, nutritious and healthy food, produced sustainably for all Australians,” Dr Robertson said.

“This national stocktake provides an evidence base to guide our actions as social, cultural, environmental and economic priorities shift.

“While Australia’s wider food system is an economic and production success, generating more than $800 billion annually and providing significant employment particularly in regional areas, the intersection of our food system with other critical goals calls for a more comprehensive way to evaluate its performance.”

Australian Conservation Foundation food system work leader Nathaniel Pelle said the report was welcome, but the findings needed to lead to action.

“What is clear from this report is that the Australian food system isn’t working for farmers, for consumers, or for nature,” he said.

“This report provides a clear signal that consideration must be given to the long-term public interest over vested interests..

“No activity has shaped the Australian landscape more profoundly than agriculture, while no industry has more to lose from environmental decline.”