“For generations, Australian farmers have been presented new ideas on how we are going to feed the world into the future. Some of them are what you might call blue sky. This, to a degree, is fine but not at the cost of ideas that are practical for solving real problems for farmers today. Ultimately, like most professions, agriculture is a human activity. No matter how sophisticated an agricultural technology is, much like the next generation submarines that will be based here on the coast of my home state of Western Australia, there will always be a need for a competent farmer to install, operate, and maintain it. While these implementation issues generally seem to be recognised by most in the agricultural industry, the elephant in the room I feel is the related challenge of actually attracting young people to work on the farm to ensure its viability for decades to come. With so many options available for our country’s youth, especially mining here on the west coast, we as a nation need to be thinking more about a sustainable workforce into the future. And this largely boils down to one simple universal idea: farmer incomes and their impact on farmer quality of life. The reality is that farming is getting harder and returns are, given various economic forces, diminishing for many farmers year on year. Imagine if this was happening in the healthcare sector. Or aviation. Or finance. Or education. Or construction. Surgeons, pilots, teachers, builders, and bankers would leave their professions in droves. And these industries suffer and perhaps eventually collapse. This idea is not about farmers whinging for more money. For the world’s oldest industry, however, this long term labour problem becomes an existential one for the entire human race. And farmers cannot solve it on their own.”

Australia’s farmers are poised for global growth, but to stay competitive, they’ll need to attract long-term investment, embrace innovation, and turn world-class production into world-leading exports.

Kelly Freeman, Managing Director of Nutrien Ag Solutions – Australia, since October 2022, shares some insights around his passion for ag, the importance of managing risk, and priorities for the future of Australian ag.

Australia produces enough food for millions, yet many households face food insecurity. Achieving true food security requires equitable access, innovative technology, and a national framework for resilience.

Australia produces enough food for millions, yet many households face food insecurity. Achieving true food security requires equitable access, innovative technology, and a national framework for resilience.Australia produces enough food for millions, yet many households face food insecurity. Achieving true food security requires equitable access, innovative technology, and a national framework for resilience.

Foreign ownership climbs while irrigation costs soar, but Australian farmers have tools to thrive. Technology and adaptive management offer a path through mounting pressure.

Australian agriculture must rethink crop choices and innovation strategies to ensure sustainability, climate resilience, and profitability amid market shifts, regulatory changes, and research system pressures.

Australia’s dairy heartland is under pressure. Rising costs, shrinking milk pools, and ageing farmers test resilience, but new technology and fair policy could revive the industry.

Australia’s agricultural future will be shaped by more than just better genetics, bigger tractors, and more efficient inputs: our ability to help plants stay functional under stress. And right now, we have a knowledge gap that needs closing.