AFI Monthly Update: November 2023

Last day to get 6 months FREE for new AFI Friends

Become an AFI Friend in November for just $33 and receive an additional six months membership (18 months for the price of 12) - this means two extra (free!) issues of Farm Institute Insights.

DON’T MISS OUT – this offer closes on Thursday 30th November.

Publications:

Government’s role in agrifood systems

As Australia’s only agricultural policy think tank, we often ask ourselves at the AFI how much intervention from governments is required to achieve good policy outcomes. This is a question that always elicits a spectrum of opinions, and at times very passionate discussion. In this year’s John Ralph Essay Competition, we sought to provoke a broad discussion on the role of public decision-making in agrifood policy by posing the question: What degree of government intervention is required to future-proof Australian food and agriculture? This edition of the Farm Policy Journal features entries from the competition as well as a contributed article. AFI Members and Subscribers can log in for access – the edition can also be purchased here.

Fostering innovative policies and practices

The last edition of Farm Institute Insights for 2023 features an article by Trey Malone, Farm Foundation Agricultural Economics Fellow for Sustainable Food Systems. Trey’s feature outlines key themes from the recent Global Forum for Farm Policy and Innovation event held in Paris, which AFI co-facilitated. This edition also includes summaries of the Beyond $100B Roundtable workshops. Log in or become a Friend to access Insights. (Don’t forget new AFI Friends get 6 months FREE until Nov. 30!)

Welcome to the AFI team!

Justin Maroccia recently joined the AFI as a Senior Researcher. Justin is an experienced public policy professional who began his career in Washington D.C. representing the agricultural value chain in federal regulatory and legislative advocacy. He has worked hard in the US to push the agriculture and bio-based products industries in a more sustainable direction while respecting the economic realities in rural communities and the manufacturing sector, and joins AFI to advance our work on ag sustainability policy.

We’ve also recently introduced some new members of our Research Advisory Committee and Research Fellow Network.

AFI’s Research Fellows bring a diverse range of farm business and agricultural policy skills, knowledge and experience to the Institute. Research Fellows are tasked with ensuring that the Institute’s outputs remain relevant to all stakeholders and underpin our credibility as an organisation with robust research capacity that is dedicated to providing the evidence for policy which is in the interest of Australian agriculture and the farmers that make up the sector. We are delighted to have Claire B. , Fiona Dempster , Emma Leonard , Edward Perrett and Sarah Sivyer continuing in their roles as AFI Fellows, and welcome Tom Hannam, Oli Madgett and Jennifer Medway GAICD to the team in late 2023.

The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) makes recommendations to AFI's Executive Director and Board on the design of research projects, ensuring that research project reports are rigorous and objective, and acts as an editorial panel for the Farm Policy Journal. In late 2023 we welcomed a raft of new members to the RAC: Dr Steve Jefferies AM , Dr Kelly Pearce , Professor Wendy Umberger and Dr Raelene Ward .

We sincerely thank outgoing RAC members Prof. Ross Kingwell , Prof. Les Copeland, Wayne Dunford, Prof. Jim Pratley AM FASA , David Sackett and Prof. Leanne Wiseman for their years of generous service and thoughtful input into AFI’s outstanding research program. Special thanks to Prof. Richard Eckard and Dr Michael Robertson for continuing on the RAC.

Read more about Justin, the Fellows and the RAC in the latest Insights.

Research:

Preparing for extreme disruptions

Small and emerging ag industry enterprises may have less access to industry-specific knowledge and well-tested production systems than established businesses. However, they can be nimble and more flexible to explore new ways of doing things. In 2022, AgriFutures Australia conceived a project to help these enterprises better understand the drivers of boom and bust cycles, and find pathways through the vulnerabilities and opportunities these cycles present. The AFI worked with NCEconomics to produce a planning guide to managing boom-and-bust cycles and an accompanying self-assessment tool for producers. After some delays in publishing, you can now download the report and access the assessment tool here.

AASF Community of Practice

Earlier this month, the AFI team participated in an online session of the AASF Community of Practice (CoP). The CoP serves as a platform for shared learning and collegiality, driving the AASF’s evolution to address emerging challenges. It brings together members with technical expertise, industry representation and a shared interest in advancing sustainability credentials in Australian agriculture.

The CoP plays a pivotal role in continuously informing the AASF about emerging challenges and opportunities. Through it, the AASF strives to foster collaboration, build capacity, share expertise and learnings and collectively address common challenges to enhance sustainability practices throughout the agricultural supply chain in Australia.

Katie McRobert (MBA, GAICD) and Richard Heath presented to the CoP on some of the key takeaways of their recent travels through Europe and the UK, promoting the AASF and engaging with a range of stakeholders. You can find out more about the CoP and become a member via the AASF website.

Want more access to AFI content? Why not become a member or upgrade your existing benefits? Check out the range of packages available here.