The ABARE Outlook conference in Canberra has today heard Dr Nick Austin of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research outline the need for a revolution in productivity to deal with global food security.

“Population growth and constraints on food production, including from the anticipated affects of climate change and shifting supply and demand patterns, must be balanced by improved agricultural yields,” Dr Austin said.

“What is necessary is not one revolution in agricultural productivity, but a series of country specific responses to spark a range of mini-revolutions in productivity that leverages off intellectual capital and an understanding of the environment.

“ACIAR seeks to promote Australia’s leadership in research to enhance global agricultural productivity.”

Dr Kym Anderson, Professor of Economics at the University of Adelaide, told delegates that climate change and an anti-trade bias of some governments’ agricultural policies raised concerns for food security in developing countries.

“Government assistance to the farm sector insulates producers from price signals, while protectionist trade policies have resulted in slower growth in trade and thinner world food markets, together with increased price volatility,” Dr Anderson said.

“This global problem requires a global solution, namely more World Trade Organization discipline against policies such as import tariffs and quotas, and export restrictions that limit growth in agricultural trade.

“This is especially important in the context of long-term threats to global food security such as climate change and the biofuel policies pursued by developed nations.”

Dr Brian Fisher, Principle of BAEconomics, noted that farmers’ terms of trade have been in a long-term decline. “However, with an increasing world population driving a substantial increase in food consumption, farmers’ terms of trade may start to rise in the decades ahead,” Dr Fisher said.

“The reduction of trade barriers and increased agricultural research and development are the central issues that need to be addressed in order to promote global food security going out.”