82
INNOVATION IN PRACTICE
Our $100 billion future starts with the soil
By Dr Michael Crawford, CEO of the Soil CRC
It is an exciting time to be in agriculture. The stated aim of the National Farmers’ Federation is that the value of agriculture will reach $100 billion per year by 2030. There will be many factors that combine to allow us to reach that target – market access, labour, capital, value adding, transport and logistics, biosecurity, genetics, agtech, automation and robotics, irrigation and, crucially, soil management.
farmers and other partners, from all states of Australia, to focus on how productivity and profitability can be increased through improved soil management. So, what are we, the Soil CRC, going to find or develop or produce that helps Australian agricul- ture achieve that target of $100 billion? First, let’s fast forward to 2030 and consider what soil management practices or tools Aus- tralian farmers might be using.
Everyone involved in agriculture understands the importance of the soil resource in the agri- cultural value chain. It starts with the soil. If we are to grow more crops and produce more live- stock through pastures and other feed sources, then it starts with the soil. The recently established Soil Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) brings together over 200 research scientists from eight universities and four state agencies. This team works with
Powered by FlippingBook