An independent institute leading farm policy discussions for Australian agriculture

What We Do

The Australian Farm Institute leads the farm policy discussions to ensure a viable future for the Australian agricultural community, delivers timely analysis and insights on priority farm policy issues, and promotes evidence-based policy solutions that maximise the economic and social wellbeing of our farmers.

Featured Content

May/June 2021 Insights

Published 7 Jun 2021

At the recent Global Food Forum in Sydney, delegates heard agribusiness leaders assert that “sustainability is now mainstream” for the agri-food industry. An increasing number of programs, projects and potential pitfalls are appearing in the ag sector. In this Insights edition, AFI offers a high-level look at some of the…

Brexit & the UK FTA: Finding opportunity in disruption

Published 28 May 2021

Australian agriculture is a sector heavily reliant on trade, with more than 70% of all agricultural production (by value) exported.[1] Due to the very low levels of government assistance received by Australian farmers compared to many global agriculture sectors[2], free trade agreements (FTAs) play a crucial role in navigating export…

Disruption Trade

Autumn 2021: Perspectives on measuring agricultural performance

Published 13 Apr 2021

‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’ – the well-used adage that often appears when discussing the need for farm businesses to keep good records. It holds true no matter what scale of farm business may be discussed, and indeed equally for understanding performance of aggregates of businesses or an…

Data Economics Productivity R&D

Research

Stay across the Institute’s current research and archive of historical reports on the topics shaping Australian agricultural policy.

Publications

Browse the Institute’s range of respected publications, available for purchase or accessed via memberships or subscription.

Policy

Institute evidence and analysis has been influential in developing new approaches on a range of agricultural issues.

Why become a member?

Your support enables AFI to lead the farm policy discussions which ensure a viable future for the Australian agricultural community.

Events

We bring the agriculture community together with events that set the policy agenda. Register for upcoming events and view past events for slide packs, recordings and other resources.

Oct

2021

Where to next for ag advocacy?

18-10-2021 09:00 AM - 18-10-2021 11:00 PM

Save the date: AFI Roundtable – Monday 18 October – National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Advocacy is of most importance in times of greatest socio-economic change. There are worrying signs that Australia – and the world – may be on the cusp of such an era of economic upheaval and…

Advocacy Regional

Jun

2021

Agriculture and trade in disrupted economies

17-06-2021 10:00 AM - 17-06-2021 10:00 PM

Thursday 17 June 2021 – Toowoomba, QLD & ONLINE Conference Overview: While COVID-19 is the most prominent disruptor of trade in recent times, it is far from the only one. Geopolitical tensions, socio-economic changes, infrastructure challenges and biosecurity concerns are not merely theoretical risks but active disruptors to Australia’s export-reliant…

Economics Trade

Dec

2020

Conservation Agriculture in 2030 Online Conference – December 2020

07-12-2020 10:00 AM - 11-12-2020 05:00 PM

Conservation Agriculture in 2030 Online Conference – 7 to 11 December 2020 – Part 2. Conservation agriculture has transformed the Australian farming sector over the past 50 years by delivering increases in productivity and profitability alongside improvements in soil condition, water efficiency and other environmental gains. Understanding the risks embedded…

Chemicals Conservation Conservation Agriculture

Featured Research

Farm Biodiversity Scheme

Published 1 Dec 2020

Early in 2020 the Australian Farm Institute undertook a research project on behalf of the National Farmer’s Federation for Phase 1 of the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme, which is a component of the Australian Government’s $34 million Agricultural Stewardship package. This project reviewed best practice management standards and collated extensive feedback…

Biodiversity Sustainability

The changing landscape of protein production: opportunities and challenges for Australian agriculture

Published 1 Feb 2020

While the impact of growth trends in vegetarian and flexitarian consumer segments on animal agriculture is often debated in industry circles, this analysis demonstrates continued and stable demand for traditional (animal-sourced) protein sources. Animal agriculture plays a significant role in the Australian economy and is likely to continue to do…

Beef Business Environment Livestock Markets

Change in the air: Defining the need for an Australian agricultural climate change strategy

Published 1 Jun 2019

Climate change is a ‘wicked problem’ representing not only a threat to the Australian agricultural sector’s profitability and international competitiveness but also to our long-term food security and the viability of some regional communities. The agriculture sector is both vulnerable to and partially responsible for the heightened challenges brought about…

Climate Environment Natural Capital Risk

Topics

Featured Videos

Foot off the gas

Published 1 Dec 2020

How a gas-led recovery will impact Australian farmers

Agriculture & gas production enterprises have different values & goals. For the sake of our farmers & our agriculture sector, it’s time to take our foot off the gas. This short video summarises the AFI briefing paper produced with the support of Farmers for Climate Action and the Australian Conserv

Gas land use conflict Water

Recognising on-farm biodiversity management

Published 23 Nov 2020

This video provides a precis of the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Phase 1 Report delivered to the National Farmers’ Federation in July 2020. During the consultation for this report, farmers identified the complexity, cost and difficulty of assessing and participating in multiple programs, as barriers to participating in current…

Biodiversity Environment Sustainability

FREE WEBINAR: Competition policy and a ‘fair go’ for farming

Published 8 Nov 2020

The AFI hosted an ‘in-conversation’ webinar on competition policy on Thursday 5th November 2020, 12:30–1:30 pm (AEDT), featuring finalists from the 2020 John Ralph Essay Competition, along with Mick Keogh and Richard Heath. Discussions focused on the future direction for Australian agriculture and competitive measures. Panellists included: • Mick Keogh…

Competition JREC Policy webinar