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the australian farmer
of Primary Industries’ research program. It “iden- tified opportunities to improve [in] governance, financial sustainability, asset management and re- porting”, she says. What’s missing is a coordination framework con- necting these elements effectively. Success requires four coordinated actions: estab- lishing sustainable, long-term funding models ex- tending beyond political cycles; creating integrated extension systems connecting research to practice; investing in digital infrastructure enabling technol- ogy adoption; and developing workforce strategies meeting current and future industry needs. Agriculture’s vision of reaching $100 billion by 2030 is achievable, but only if policymakers re- cognise that strategic investment in systems and capabilities matters more than spending announce- ments. Australia’s farmers have proven they can innovate and adapt. The challenge is ensuring they have integrated support systems necessary to thrive in increasingly complex environments.
The University of Melbourne’s Climate Resilient Agriculture research group emphasises that “current and predicted changing climates requires a new ap- proach to agriculture to ensure viable, productive, and healthy agroecosystems into the future”. Research priorities at that university and across the nation increasingly focus on climate-resilient production systems, sustainable resource manage- ment, and emissions reduction strategies. Heat tol- erance research, drought-resistant varieties, and improved decision-making tools represent critical investments in long-term agricultural viability. Coordinated action framework Australia’s agricultural future depends on moving beyond fragmented, short-term interventions to- ward integrated, sustainable systems thinking. The elements exist: world-class research capabilities, innovative farmers, and growing recognition of agriculture’s strategic importance. As well, Moriarty talks to the latest report from the NSW Department
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