Media Release: Future of agriculture takes shape in Berlin

Strong and demonstrable sustainability and welfare credentials will be critical to Australia’s world- leading livestock and meat industries in the future.

Livestock was the theme of the 10th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) held over the weekend in Berlin and Australia’s representative, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Anne Ruston, said discussions left no doubt about the increasing demand for more sustainable use of natural resources in livestock production, and higher animal welfare standards.

“Australia is a world leader in livestock farming,” Minister Ruston said.

“Our livestock industries are productive, profitable, sustainable and subject to some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world. Our farmers are great innovators, and our livestock and livestock products are in considerable demand all over the world.

“Australia’s edge in competitiveness rests with the high quality of our livestock and livestock products, and our unrivalled biosecurity status.

“Farmers will also need to be able to demonstrate the strongest possible environmental sustainability and animal welfare credentials to ensure future market access – industry must develop effective and unique ways to do this, and innovation will be critical here too.”

Minister Ruston also represented Australia at the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference as part of the GFFA.

“It was an invaluable opportunity for Australia to play its role in shaping the future of global agriculture,” Minister Ruston said. “The conference is the largest of its type in the world, this year attended by more than 80 agricultural ministers.

“Australia has much expertise and experience to offer but there’s much we can learn as well - we must continue to innovate and improve.

“The event was also an opportunity for Australia’s world-leading agriculture sector to take the international centre stage, and demonstrate how we’re ideally placed to help meet challenges such as feeding a growing world population, and the increased movement of people, animals and products around the globe.”