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Report finds new tech crucial to Australian ag success
Elizabeth Gracie
A new report written by the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) has identified the new technologies which are essential to driving continual growth and resilience to secure a fertile future for Australia’s agriculture industries.
The report focuses on the implementation of robotic systems, IoT (The Internet of Things), sensor technologies and AI machine learning, biotech, and nanotech.
It argues that these technologies have the potential to drastically improve farm management practices, efficiency and productivity as well as widening the economic returns for farmers.
Biotech and nanotech will accelerate plant and animal breeding through gene modification to develop more climate-resistant crops and new varieties of foods at an increased scale.
“Historically, Australian producers have been rapid adopters of innovation, and these emerging technologies will help our agriculture sector to transform and tackle current and future challenges,” said Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel, who commissioned the report through the National Science and Technology Council.
Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said that the report makes it clear that smart, strategic investment of new and innovative technologies is the key to keeping agriculture afloat and ahead of the game.
“Australian farmers already have some of the most advanced farming practices in the world, and the findings of this report confirm the importance of ensuring farmers and businesses on-farm have easy access to innovative technologies into the future along the supply chain,” said Littleproud.
“The Federal Government has a clear path to support the industry to capitalise on the next wave of growth and reach its production value goal of $100bn by 2030 - and that involves investment in the uptake of advanced technologies”.
According to Dr Finkel, this goal will only be within reach if innovative technologies are adopted at a rapid pace within the sector.
“Australia’s diverse agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector is a $69bn industry, delivering significant benefits for our nation - particularly at a time where our economy is facing unprecedented challenges. However, reaching the Government’s goal of $100bn by 2030 will likely require more than just incremental technological advancements,” said Chief Scientist Dr Allan Finkel.
Increasing technological uptake in Australia’s agriculture sector could also help maximise opportunities for regional employment, business development and Indigenous landholders according to ACOLA Chair, Professor Joy Damousi.
The report also shares many of the same key findings with the current Digital Foundations for Agriculture Strategy.
“This report aligns with our Digital Foundations for Agriculture Strategy that will set the foundations for the widespread uptake of digital technologies across agriculture, forestry and fisheries,” said Littleproud.
The Digital Foundations for Agriculture Strategy aims to build the Australian agriculture sectors resilience, drive constituent economic growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that secure foundations are in place for agricultural businesses to implement modern technologies when the time comes.
It will also seek to complete the efforts of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and other organisations who are currently providing digitally savvy solutions to help increase uptake of novel technologies in the agriculture sector.
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