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THE FARMER: FEEDING THE FUTURE
FEEDING THE FUTURE
Avoiding the European model, investing in ag tech and making the most of our sustainable reputation is key to feeding the future, industry leaders pointed out at a panel discussion event at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference this year.
“Never before in human history have so many people relied on so few to feed them” was an opening remark made by Croplife CEO Matthew Cossey on the Feeding the Future panel, held on the eve of NSW Farmers Annual Conference.
The panel, made up of industry, tech and agribusiness experts was brought together to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing NSW agriculture in the coming years.
Facilitated by The Daily Telegraph’s State Political Reporter, Madeleine Bower, the panel covered issues including biosecurity, pest and weeds, infrastructure, and logistics, but key themes to emerge were the importance of good regulation, based on science, and the importance of emerging agtech.
Mr Cossey is advocating for policy makers to look at the real challenges facing farming in 2023 and regulate accordingly, taking advice from those on the ground, not those in the inner-city who want to “decide the best farming practices”.
Agritech will play a major role in Australian farmers achieving this.
At the forefront of Agritech is Bela Farbas, founder of 4Zero Technologies.
“Technology at its best solves a problem,” Mr Farbas said.
“[During Covid], we uncovered a lot of problems that people simply weren’t aware of before.
“Where technology really shines is when we identify an issue, when we identify a gap and then we apply the right level of technology to it in such a way that it’s cost effective, has to be easy and it actually solves that problem reliably day after day.”
Fortunately for Australian agriculture, “absolutely we’re competitive” with the rest of the world when it comes to agritech.
4Zero Technologies specialises in digital integration solutions which reduce the end-to-end risk and cost for stock feeds, as well as integrated vehicle scheduling which ensures trucks never have to wait to deliver ingredients or pick up goods.
“I’ve spent some time in the US looking at their ag sector and we’ve got colleagues over in the UK and Europe as well, and we’re pretty much up there,” said Mr Farbas.
The role the new Western Sydney Airport will play to bring NSW produce to the world was also discussed.
Opening in 2026, the single runway will be capable of carrying any aircraft in the world, with “one of the opportunities obviously to carry produce,” said
Executive Director, Business Western Sydney David Borger, paving the way for NSW food producers to better access overseas markets.
Opening the way for smoother supply chains, adequate investment in transport infrastructure is pivotal.
“There is no easy solution,” says Mr Cossey, adding “it is one of the greatest blockages for the growth of the economy and it is one of the great hurdles that ag faces.”
The importance of Aussie farmers making the most of their clean and green reputation was also raised by Telstra’s Strategic Growth – Agribusiness, Retail and Supply Chain, Chris Stevenson.
“We are in a unique position, he says. “Sustainability is becoming a really huge value proposition of what people are looking for overseas.”
Pointing to research with Meat and Livestock Australia, Mr Stevenson said sustainability was the main thing people saw right across the value chain and the good news is, Australian farmers are amongst the most sustainable in the world.
FACILITATOR:
Madeleine Bower – State Political Reporter, The Daily Telegraph
PANELLISTS:
David Borger – Executive Director, Business Western Sydney
Chris Stevenson – Agribusiness, Retail and Supply Chain – Telstra
John Howard – RIC CEO
Bela Farbas – Founder – 4Zero Technologies
Matthew Cossey – CEO Croplife
