THE growth of agriculture in northern Australia is dependent on getting not just the balance between development and environment right, but also being an inclusive process for other interest groups.
Speaking at the Food Futures conference in Darwin, NT Farmers president Simon Smith said environment and development were the focus, and no group involved could afford to be excluded.
"We can't develop the north the way we developed the south," Mr Smith said.
"These are not the days of terra nullius or unfettered opening up of country.
"The world has changed.
"Development applications are here to stay, and we have to incorporate environmental thinking in development plans."
Mr Smith said the environment movement needed to be engaged - at least those who were open to discussion - and to listen and learn from Traditional Owners and organisations such as the NT Amateur Fishermen's Association.
He highlighted the reference group for the NT's Water Efficiency, Productivity and Sustainability Project as a great example of bringing key stakeholders together.
"I recently sat opposite Shar Molloy from the Environment Centre and cotton grower Bruce Connolly, who were in furious agreement for the need for more science around overland flow water capture," he said.
"Environment and development are linked and inseparable.
Environment and development are linked and inseparable.
- Simon Smith, NT Farmers Association
"We need to accept the need to incorporate environmental values in development plans.
"We need to face reality of development with environment and Indigenous participation."
Mr Smith said there were opinions that some people would not agree with.
"But if we are to develop, we need to listen to those we don't agree with," he said.
"I urge you to grasp the moment to have those awkward conversations to better understand other perspectives so we can all be better informed on how best to develop the north."
"Balancing these is our challenge."
Mr Smith said it was also critical that farmers partnered with government and forged linkages with large national farming groups, and did not just leave the process to state and federal governments.
"The people in the room will drive agricultural development from both the public and private sectors," he said.
"We are all in a pioneering environment, different to established areas on the east coast and the south."
Mr Smith said the goal of Food Futures had been to influence the thinking of delegates with a range of ideas.
"NT Farmers started Food Futures in 2014 to build the case for more northern agriculture," he said.
"Our foundation was successful farmers in the north, whose story was not told.
"We wanted to counteract the paradigm of failure in northern agriculture.
"We demonstrate success is possible in the north and successful farmers provide the direction to future business models for development."
The very successful three-day Food Futures conference held in the Darwin Convention Centre was co-led by the NT Farmers Association and OrdCo (Ord River District Cooperative), and attended by more than 500 people.
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