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Warning on lack of agricultural research
13 Mar 2007
Declining government support for agricultural research is threatening the long-term future of Australian agriculture, according to a report by the Australian Farm Institute. The Productivity Growth in Australian Agriculture: Trends, Sources, Performance report said that the public sector is the biggest spender on agricultural research, spending $730 million a year. "However, the share of research funded by rural R&D corporations (joint government-industry bodies) is now approaching 50 per cent," said John Mullen, the report’s writer. "Public-sector investment in agricultural research in Australia has shown little growth in real terms in recent decades, prompting concerns about the future rates of agricultural productivity growth." The reports concerns are shared by the National Farmers Federation, with an NFF spokesman saying, "Without more agricultural R & D, we will be left behind, Australia’s competitive advantage will be whittled away."
The Age, 13/03/2007
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