Agriculture globally and in Australia is at a critical juncture in history with the current changes to input costs, commodity prices, consumption patterns and food stocks. Constraints are emerging in terms of land and water resources as well as ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

There is evidence that rates of increase in agricultural productivity are reducing, both in Australia and overseas. On top of all these drivers of change, agriculture is probably most exposed to climate change, and Australian agriculture is as exposed as any in the world.

In the face of such national and global agronomic challenges, a significant threat looms with the skills challenge facing agricultural science in Australia. The demand for the integrative skills of agronomy appears strong but the sector has suffered from disinvestment in recent decades.

Agricultural sector problems

According to a survey data done by Statista Research Department in 2024, 49% of farmers surveyed in Australia said that economic conditions/costs were the biggest challenges faced that year. 20% of respondents said that the weather was the biggest challenge in 2023.

Australia's agricultural sector is a champion, feeding the nation and earning big bucks overseas. But life on the farm isn't a walkabout in the park. Our farmers are tough, battling unique challenges daily.

Here are a few problems that the agriculture industry is facing:

• Climate chaos: imagine farming roulette! One minute it's a scorching heat wave threatening to turn your crops into popcorn, the next it is floodwaters that would make Noah consider an Uber.
• Water wars: farmers juggle saving every drop of rain, all while the local council eyes their sprinklers suspiciously.
• Labour labyrinth: farm work is hot, sweaty, and requires real skills. Attracting workers is hard.
• Price fluctuation: imagine raising a prize-winning cow, only to see the beef market crash. Farmers are at the mercy of global prices that yo-yo more than a toddler on a sugar rush.
• Biosecurity scare: Australia has a unique ecosystem, and keeping out nasty pests and diseases is a constant battle. Farmers are like bouncers at an exclusive biosecurity club, checking their crops and livestock for anything suspicious.
• Tech troubles: Australian farmers are eager to adopt new technologies, like drones and precision farming equipment, but face challenges with the high costs and the digital divide. Rural internet connectivity is often unreliable, making it difficult to fully utilise these advancements.
• Soil degradation: Australia's soils are ancient and nutrient-poor, making soil health a major concern. Issues like salinity, erosion, and loss of organic matter due to over-farming and deforestation are significant problems. Farmers must implement sustainable practices to maintain soil fertility.

These challenges highlight the resilience and ingenuity required to sustain agriculture in Australia. Despite these difficulties, Australian farmers continue to adapt and innovate to ensure the viability and sustainability of their industry.

But wait, there's more!

• Water management: water is a precious resource in Australia, with farmers often facing water scarcity. They must balance irrigation needs with water conservation, amidst competition from urban areas and environmental requirements. Water rights and allocations are a constant source of tension.
• Labour shortages: Attracting and retaining skilled labour is a significant issue in Australian agriculture. Farm work is demanding and often located in remote areas, making it less appealing to workers. Seasonal labour shortages, especially for tasks like harvesting, are a recurring problem.
• Urban expansion: As Australian cities expand, agricultural land is being swallowed up by urban development. This reduces available farmland and pushes farmers further out into less fertile and more remote areas, increasing transportation costs and logistical challenges.
• Administrative load: Farmers in Australia must go through a set of regulations at local, state, and federal levels. Compliance with environmental laws, animal welfare standards, and biosecurity measures can be time-consuming and costly, adding to the administrative burden on farmers.

Aussie farmers are battlers. They're innovative, resourceful, and have an amazing sense of humour. They're constantly adapting, finding ways to work with the environment, and ensuring our plates stay full. So next time you bite into a juicy steak, remember the unseen battles that went into getting it there. 

Against this turbulent background, the greatest emerging opportunity for Australian agriculture must be sought from productivity breakthroughs in the face of current and emerging constraints. This view is formed by looking through the lens of the global food production challenge which sees a demand for close to a doubling of food production by 2050 in the face of increasingly constrained land and water resources, soil degradation, increasing energy scarcity and limits on greenhouse gas release to the atmosphere.

These same land, water, soil, energy and atmospheric constraints to agriculture apply in Australia and will shape both farming and the agricultural research agenda over the coming decades.

It is worth raising a glass to these Aussie farmers champions – they're the backbone of our nation! Contact us to know more!