Response from AG Institute Australia to the National Food Plan

Ag Institute Australia (The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology) is pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the National Food Plan. Ag Institute Australia is the peak body in Australia representing the professions of agricultural science and natural resources management. It has over 1000 members including scientists, advisers, policy managers, consultants, agribusiness and farmers. We provide strong, independent, balanced and factually based representation and advocacy on a wide range of issues affecting the profession and agriculture generally. In recent times these have included agricultural education, rural communication, farmer response to greenhouse gas policy, and rural research, development and extension (RD and E). Our submission deals with a number of important background issues and then responds largely to the challenges facing the production of sufficient quality food at a profit to the farmer and at a cost which local and overseas consumers can afford.