Two new studies will help Australia identify the food needs and preferences in the Asian century and forecast how this demand will impact on infrastructure systems.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) will complete the studies as part of the National Food Plan, released today.
The first $2.2 million study, 'What Asia Wants', will assess the long-term food demand prospects across individual Asian countries so Australian food producers can plan for new opportunities.
"You can't plan for the future if you don't know what's on the horizon," Minister Ludwig said.
"This study will help Australia food producers to get a line of sight of the new opportunities in Asia. It's accepted that there will be a boom in Asian food demand; this study will pinpoint where that demand will be.
"Knowing what's ahead will help our farmers and food producers to better plan to meet those needs and capitalise on the opportunities on our doorstep."
The second study, 'Moving Food: Infrastructure needs for the future', will look at how best to get our food to the markets of the future.
"Changing food demands will impact Australia's infrastructure systems," Minister Ludwig said.
"After identifying where the demand will be in 'What Asia Wants', this second study will work out how to get our food there. It will examine the implications of the forecast demand, potential supply response and the likely needs for efficient transportation and handling of food and agricultural products.
"This study will also examine the pressures of growth of the food industry on critical infrastructure needs to support agriculture, including research and development."
Both studies will help agriculture and the food industry meet the opportunities of the Asian century.
Original Article Here
No comments:
Post a Comment