Regional Agriculture Deals could serve a similar role to City Deals, ensuring a bipartisan approach to improving rail and road links to crop growing regions, the National Farmers’ Federation has said.
The NFF recently released its new policy roadmap aimed at boosting Australia’s farm gate output towards $100 billion by 2030 – up from a ‘business as usual’ trend estimate of $84 billion.
“Right now we’re seeing first hand that when farming suffers a seasonal downturn, the impacts are widespread,” NFF president Fiona Simson said.
“But the converse is also true. A thriving farm sector means more vibrant regional communities, and more jobs right along the value chain.”
Simson said Australia boasts great fundamentals fuelling agricultural growth, notably a booming middle class in Asia.
“At the same time we’re facing stiff new competition, as emerging competitors modernise their farming systems and export greater volumes into our key markets,” she said.
“We can’t take our growth for granted. We need a clear plan and a collaborative effort. That’s what the 2030 Roadmap seeks to achieve.”
A key pillar of the policy roadmap is a focus on the value chain.
The NFF outlines a number of actions that should be taken to cope with a predicted doubling of freight movements via road, rail and port infrastructure between 2010 and 2040.
The report encourages governments to work together on Regional Agriculture Deals that could provide a multi-government framework for physical infrastructure investment and regional development policy.
It also urges policymakers to map strategic transport infrastructure for the nation’s agriculture, with the view of reducing bottlenecks in the value chain and lowering transport costs.
The report also argues for consistent national transport regulations.
“Government has a critical role to play in delivering on the Roadmap,” Simson continued.
“We need a coordinated commitment from all tiers of government, which isn’t subject to short-term political cycles.
“A National Agriculture Strategy – developed in close consultation with industry and endorsed by COAG – is a critical next step.”
The NFF plans to release an annual report card to track progress against key metrics outlined in the roadmap report.
“This will keep us, the broader industry, and government accountable to the plan,” Simson said.