More than 50 per cent of Australian agricultural productivity growth is attributable to research and development investments. However, this growth has waned in recent years.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultures and Resources Economics shows the average annual productivity growth in agriculture is 0.6 per cent per year from 2004/05 to 2019/20, which is significantly lower than the average of 3.6 per cent per year from 1989/90 to 2004/05.
In response, the federal government formed the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda in 2020 and recently announced details of its National Agricultural Innovation Policy Statement, which provides direction for improving the Australian agricultural innovation system and aims to drive productivity growth across agriculture and its supply chain.
It also lays out four new National Agricultural Innovation Priorities that target exports, climate resilience, biosecurity and digital agriculture. These priorities were developed in concert with RDCs, including FWPA, in response to feedback that priorities must be specific and targeted to drive investment.
“We worked with stakeholders to develop this statement, and we will work with stakeholders to deliver these priorities,” Minister Littleproud said.
“I am working closely with industry organisations and the 15 RDCs to increase the RDCs accountability around stakeholder transparency, removing duplication and driving commercialisation. This is to ensure value is provided to the levy payer and the taxpayer.”
As part of this initiative, the government has provided a $2.8 million investment to Agriculture Innovation Australia (AIA) for the development of prospectuses aligned with the four main priorities in collaboration with the RDCs.
“Agricultural Innovation Australia has been established by the RDCs to tackle large cross-sectoral priority issues affecting the sector, and attract private sector investment,” said Littleproud.
The new innovation priorities, to be addressed by 2030, replace the previous National Rural Research, Development and Extension priorities laid out in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
The intention of the priorities is to support industry members to align their efforts and help target investment across the agricultural innovation system, with the goal of addressing cross-sectoral issues, and achieving a more profitable and sustainable agricultural industry.
The goal is to amplify Australia’s reputation as a trusted exporter, champion climate resilience, strengthen and future-proof biosecurity, and become an adopter and exporter of digital agriculture.
Key to driving innovation has been the development of GrowAg, an online platform that has, according to the statement, “successfully showcased our world leading agricultural research, unique technologies and commercialisation opportunities to the world.”
Since launching in April 2021 this platform has showcased more than 2,000 research projects and more than 40 commercialisation opportunities, including projects led by FWPA which can be viewed on the site.
One research project, supported by the AIA, will develop a standard protocol to account for primary industry’s greenhouse gas emissions profile and establish a common understanding of terminology. This work, which has the backing of the RDCs, public and cross-industry private investors, will assist Australia in reaching climate goals.
Last year Minister Littleproud announced the government would match the forest grower levy increase, providing much needed funds for industry research and development efforts in forestry.
“We are excited to see increased opportunities to work in collaboration with other RDCs as well as government, private and primary industry stakeholders to deliver better financial outcomes and continued growth for our industry,” said FWPA R&D Manager, Chris Lafferty.
The National Agricultural Innovation Policy Statement is available to read online at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website.
