Dated: 18th May 2011
There has been considerable national interest in a food policy forum to be held in Launceston on June 2, organised by the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association.
Registrations are about to close for those wishing to attend the forum, which will be a pathfinder in setting out Australia’s options to ensure that farmers continue to provide sufficient high quality food to meet domestic and world demand.
The presenters include:
• Professor Julian Cribb, one of Australia’s leading science communicators;
• demographer Bernard Salt;
• Mick Keogh, executive director of the Australian Farm Institute;
• Dr Tony Press, CEO Climate Futures for Tasmania; and
• Professor Anthony Arundel, professor of Innovation at the Australian Innovation Research Centre at the University of Tasmania.
“It is clear from the interest already shown in the forum that food security is getting to the front of people’s minds,” TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said today.
“With climate change and the resulting altered landscape for agriculture, we really need to reassess what we are doing,” she said.
“In many ways, Tasmania is blessed. We have less than one per cent of Australia’s landmass, but more than 13 per cent of its water. We have what it takes: water, land, sunshine and people. We have a relatively high density of arable land; we have the most usable periods of sunshine the critical ripening periods of summer and autumn. We have highly skilled farmers and researchers but if we are to capitalise on our advantages, we need to ensure decision-makers are on board with us.”
Ms Davis said the policy forum would provide some context for a more informed discussion in Tasmania.
It will be held at Country Club Tasmania in Launceston on Thursday, June 2. There will be a field trip the following day.
Jan Davis http://www.tfga.com.au/
