Papers and submissions
Publication Search
Occasional, briefing and discussion papers released by the Australian Farm Institute are available for free download.
Published 25 May 2022
The growing interest and momentum surrounding the regenerative agriculture movement has generated considerable debate about motivations, definitions, stakeholders, and the role that scientific research plays. Amidst the sometimes-emotive debate there are some incontrovertible facts and drivers. The first of these is that most human activity is exploitative of the natural…
Published 23 Feb 2022
First and foremost, the grains industry must recognise the existential threat posed by climate change to sectoral productivity and profitability as the primary driver for carbon neutrality. Compounding this fundamental threat, a failure to proactively move to net zero targets could see the industry ‘locked out’ of key trading markets…
Published 13 Aug 2021
AFI submission to the Senate inquiry into definitions of meat and other animal products, addressing: 1. The potential impairment of Australian meat category brand investment from the appropriation of product labelling by manufactured plant-based or synthetic protein brands, 2. The health implications of consuming heavily manufactured protein products which are…
Published 2 Aug 2021
Soil carbon farming has been promoted as one of the key strategies for offsetting Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the ancillary benefit of improving soil health and farm productivity. This article explains in simple terms the procedures for a farmer to participate in the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund. It…
Published 12 Apr 2021
Farming in Australia is often not easy even at the best of times. At the worst of times, government assistance is sometimes necessary. As evidenced by the fluctuations in farm income subsequent to recent droughts and natural disaster events, even the most financially resilient farm businesses can be put under severe pressure…
Published 26 Feb 2021
Broadacre irrigation in the southern Murray-Darling Basin is set to change dramatically: is this the creative destruction we want? In discussions about the Basin Plan and re-balancing extractive water rights in favour of environmental needs, one key reform has been consistently underestimated in its significant and permanent effect on irrigation…
Published 30 Nov 2020
The Federal Government has announced that part of Australia’s strategy to deal with the economic impacts of COVID-19 will be a ‘gas-led recovery’. However, increasing gas production in Australia creates obstacles to the agriculture sector’s economic viability, social cohesion, environmental stewardship and ability to meet sustainability goals.
Published 26 Nov 2020
The production of dairy products is associated with environmental impacts, and these impacts have resulted in calls within the popular media to reduce dairy consumption for the benefit of the environment (e.g. Carrington, 2018; Eating Better, 2020). Impacts of current production are estimated by environmental footprints; the use of environmental…
Published 1 Sep 2020
AFI Submission to the ACCC inquiry on bargaining power in agriculture. Bargaining and market power imbalances have long been a source of angst for participants in Australian agricultural supply chains and an ongoing concern for policy-makers. The exercise (and often misuse) of power by leading firms who are able to…
Published 22 May 2020
Regenerative agriculture describes a set of practices and principles which aim to increase biodiversity, enrich soils, improve watersheds, and enhance ecosystem services. These are goals which are obviously desirable and are understandably generating significant interest in regenerative agriculture methods amongst farmers and the wider community more generally.
Published 4 May 2020
Australian agriculture is a highly globalised industry, with 71% of all production being exported. This global exposure means that economic, trade and political factors in other countries can have significant impacts on the operations and profitability of Australian farmers and the industry. These impacts are exacerbated as Australian farmers receive…
Published 7 Oct 2019
A submission to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources from the Australian Farm Institute. The business of agriculture in Australia has historically been beset with risk. While production practices are constantly improving, the challenges of climate change, energy prices, poor data collection, inadequate digital adoption and immaturity of…