Queensland Country Life

Modernisation of agriculture is key to food future

Chris and Amanda Howie are growing 40 hectares of both dryland and irrigated cotton in the Northern Territory's Douglas Daly region and are hoping to have the first cotton picked in July. Picture: Supplied
Chris and Amanda Howie are growing 40 hectares of both dryland and irrigated cotton in the Northern Territory's Douglas Daly region and are hoping to have the first cotton picked in July. Picture: Supplied

This is branded content from the Northern Territory Farmers Association.

The Northern Territory Farmers Association, in partnership with ORDCO, is bringing Australia's key stakeholders, thought leaders and investors together for the Food Futures Conference in Darwin in May. The association's CEO Paul Burke outlines some of the critical issues and challenges on the agenda.

Agriculture in Australia is worth billions of dollars annually and could be worth billions more. I don't think anyone would dispute this.

But what we all can't agree on is how we generate this growth without compromising environmental outcomes.

NT Farmers Association CEO Paul Burke.
NT Farmers Association CEO Paul Burke.

In order to develop, agriculture needs to learn from other industries.

The mining sector is far more sophisticated in dealing with native title issues, environmental matters and they have the human resources needed to successfully complete development projects.

That is not to say that mining companies get it right all the time, but these organisations are far more proactive in their project planning.

As a sector we often take the view that the approvals process is too complex and costly.

Significant time, energy and resources are often used to fight through the process instead of stepping back and looking holistically at the development outcomes we are trying to achieve.

The regulatory process has changed considerably over the last decade, these changes may seem onerous to us in the industry but to the general population they are essential to protecting our fragile environment.

The development of a cotton industry in Northern Australia has bought a higher level of scrutiny than we have experienced in the past.

Cotton in the Northern Territory's Douglas Daly region. Picture: Supplied
Cotton in the Northern Territory's Douglas Daly region. Picture: Supplied

We need to become far more effective at how we tell our story and how we engage with the wider community.

I have no doubt that if the general population understands what we are trying to achieve and how our production systems work they will be more inclined to support our endeavors.

Currently, the conversation between environmental groups and agriculture is based around the desire to discredit each other's fundamental beliefs, when the message should be that farmers are the best land stewards that exist in Australia.

After all, we have a vested interest in protecting our lands and our livelihoods - our future depends on it.

Comments like "Cotton Kills Rivers" are hurtful to farmers and are not based in fact. What kills rivers is poor regulation, not the crops that rely on the waters to survive.

Farmers need security of high-quality water to allow for plantings and harvests. We all have a role to play in educating the broader population on how farming and agriculture systems work.

Almonds growing in the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied
Almonds growing in the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied

Social media has allowed dangerous levels of 'Group Think' to emerge on all sides. If you continually listen to voices that agree with your views, they become so entrenched they are difficult to change.

Yet if we engage respectfully in conversations across a broad range of opinions, we will all evolve to a more fact-based decision-making process.

The approvals process is complex and consistently evolving. These processes are in place to protect the integrity of developments and the environment.

As an industry we need to work within the regulatory process and ensure that we deliver against our development plan and our environmental outcomes, neither is less important than the other.

Critically now and into the future our operations will be judged against our environmental credentials.

The Northern Australia Food Futures Conference being in held in Darwin May 17 to 20 will seek to unpack these issues. The theme for this year's event is aptly 'Balancing Environmental Outcomes and Agricultural Development'.

Peanuts under cultivation in the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied.
Peanuts under cultivation in the Northern Territory. Picture: Supplied.

With more than 75 speakers across three days from agricultural industries, environmental groups and Traditional Owners we aim to give farmers, regulators and environmental groups a greater understanding of what's required to guarantee successful developments.

Of all the agricultural conferences in Australia, Food Futures aims to challenge your ideas and broaden your thought processes to create truly balanced agricultural developments. Darwin is beautiful in May and we look forward to welcoming you to this event and our beautiful part of Australia.

For further information about the Conference, visit: https://www.foodfuturesntfarmers.org.au/

This is branded content from the Northern Territory Farmers Association.