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Flexible management the key to sustainable agriculture: Grains Week 2006

Reference: 06/60

A flexible, systems approach that delivers economic, environmental and social outcomes will underpin the future of Australian agriculture, according to the head of CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Dr Andrew Johnson.

5 April 2006

Dr Johnson says the long-term viability of agriculture in Australia will depend on the establishment and maintenance of farming systems that are economically viable and consider the environmental and social impacts of production on present and future generations.

Collaborative research between the CSIRO and Australia’s Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) aims to ensure the industry’s ongoing sustainability by increasing economic value from farming landscapes, reducing the ecological and ethical ‘footprint' or impact of Australian agriculture; and building the resilience of rural and regional communities.

“Farming systems will need to offer the flexibility to accommodate regional differences and changing economic, environmental and social circumstances such as climate change and trade reform,”

he said.

Dr Johnson says success in these areas will be contingent on understanding the connections between natural, agricultural, industrial and urban ecosystems and the extent to which systems management is shaped by economic and social processes.

'Farming systems will need to offer the flexibility to accommodate regional differences and changing economic, environmental and social circumstances such as climate change and trade reform,' he said.

'The objective will be to continue to meet consumer demands for healthy, high quality food and fibre products and also to assist agriculture to adopt innovative technologies and techniques, and ensure pricing reflects production as well as environmental costs.'

Dr Johnson will discuss options for a sustainable future for Australian agriculture at the Grains Week 2006 Research Symposium in Canberra on April 6.

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CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Chief Dr Andrew Johnson will discuss ways to create a sustainable future for Australian agriculture at the Grains Week 2006 Research Symposium.