NP's R&D Conference Media Release: Will Farmers Meet the Food Challenge: A positive repositioning of agriculture in the public mind is critical if we are to meet the challenges we now face

摘要

The recent Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Conference held in Canberra highlighted the challenges facing agriculture in producing enough food to feed the world. World population will reach 9 billion by 2050 and requires a doubling of food production if we all eat like we do now. It is not just about feeding people but is a major security issue when one considers that some of the biggest conflicts in world history have been over food or food producing resources such as landand water. Even Australia is now looking at what its population goal should be although the debate seems to revolve around city impacts, infrastructure, health and social standards rather than about how we will feed them. The appointment of Primary Industry Minister Tony Burke to take responsibility for this area is an encouraging sign.