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INNOVATION IN PRACTICE
A Fair Go for the farmer: break the duopoly
By David Davies
Australia produces enough food for millions, yet many households face food insecurity. Achieving true food security requires equitable access, innovative technology, and a national framework for resilience.
for a similar transformation. My journey from tracking fresh produce for major supermarkets to my current role at AgUnity, has given me a front-row seat to the inefficiencies and inequities of food supply chains all over the world. I’ve seen first- hand how executives at the giants display a perverse pride in the way they wield their power. The ACCC in- quiries have confirmed what we all have known for decades: the power imbalance hurts every Australian from Farmer to Consumer and it is only getting worse. I was honoured to be asked to address the G20 event in Bali alongside the CEO of Pinduoduo, and had a fas- cinating discussion where I learned about the revolu-
Every Australian knows, our farmers are not getting a fair go. When you look at the price on the supermarket shelf and what makes it back to the farm gate, Australia is the opposite of fair. Our agriculture is squeezed by the immense market power of the duopoly that acts in unison, dictates terms, prices, and practices, leaving both farmers and consumers worse off. But what if there was a way to break this stranglehold? A proven model from, a place that had until re- cently the most impoverished and exploited farm- ers in the world shows us there is a better way, that country is China of all places, and Australia is primed
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