Amid the droughts and flooding rains made famous in the poetry of Dorothea Mackellar over 100 years ago, and highlighted ironically during the visit of Prime Minister Tony Abbott to the bush, Australia agriculture continues to put food on the tables three times a day. It continues to innovate and contribute to the nation's prosperity. It continues to eke out efficiencies in the production system. Though much is to be lauded, much needs to change.
And it's more fundamental than support for drought ravaged businesses.
Modern agriculture is grounded on the belief that the primary objective of the industry is to produce as much food and fibre as possible for the least cost.
- Fraser D (1999) Animal ethics and animal welfare science: bridging the two cultures. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 65: 171-189, and
- Fraser D (2001) The “New Perception” of animal agriculture: legless cows, featherless chickens and a need for genuine analysis. Journal of Animal Science 79: 634-6411
Will we accept that profitability of farm enterprises, and especially family businesses, is a legitimate aspiration?
What is it that we want our agriculture to do?