162
PLANT HEALTH
From innovation to impact: transforming crops for today and tomorrow
By Professor Matthew Tucker
Australian agriculture must rethink crop choices and innovation strategies to ensure sustainability, climate resilience, and profitability amid market shifts, regulatory changes, and research system pressures.
crops we’ve traditionally relied upon are facing challenges and suddenly may no longer be the best fit for our future. I am often asked about the future of our staple crops such as wheat, bar- ley, oilseeds and pulses, which collectively generated $23 bil- lion 1 for the Australian economy in FY2024/25. Should we focus more on how we grow, what we grow, or where we grow to improve productivity? And are current Australian research and translation systems equipped to
support the innovation that will answer these questions, or must we look overseas? Australian growers are remark- ably quick to embrace change. For example, ABARES data shows recent shifts towards increased hectares of crops such as lentils and canola, whereas crops of barley and wheat have remained relatively static over time 1 . These decisions are often driven by commodity prices, not agro- nomic sustainability. In some cases, growers are pushing rota-
Agriculture is one of the pillars upon which Australia is built. It is a productive, progressive, and profitable industry that has sur- vived many challenges, and sup- ported our nation through good times and bad. However, if you read financial forecasts, attend industry briefings, or spend time late at night trawling through statistics, agriculture is now at a crossroads. As climate variabil- ity intensifies, accountability for sustainable farming snowballs, and global markets shift, the
Powered by FlippingBook