Australia and New Zealand: Joint Statement on Agricultural Innovation Cooperation

Ministers affirmed the importance of international collaboration to building and sharing expertise in agricultural innovation. Agricultural innovation continues to be important in driving productivity growth in Australia and New Zealand’s vibrant agricultural sectors.

Ministers acknowledged that, consistent with both countries’ international obligations, Australia and New Zealand have made commitments to support their agricultural sectors ­to grow to $100 billion by 2030 and $64 billion by 2025, respectively. Ministers recognised the opportunity to work together in sharing information and building agricultural innovation. This will help secure global growth opportunities for our primary producers and help ensure that producers are best equipped to address global challenges such as climate change.

Ministers recalled that Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern emphasised the importance of data and emerging technologies in the context of strengthening the trans‑Tasman single economic market agenda on 22 February 2019.

Ministers also recognised that significant progress has been achieved on bilateral innovation and science collaboration, including new joint innovative agricultural research, since the establishment of the Australia New Zealand Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement (ANZSRICA), signed in 2017.

Ministers recognised opportunities for further collaboration and cooperation on agricultural innovation under the agreement. In particular, Ministers welcomed confirmation that Australia will host the Global Research Alliance in 2020−21, continuing important work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture while growing global food security.

Ministers directed officials to share expertise, experience and information in order to strengthen each countries’ agricultural innovation ecosystem. Areas of focus throughout 2020 will be:

• the role of government and industry in growing a vibrant and productive high impact agricultural innovation ecosystem
• building collaboration to prioritise, develop, commercialise and disseminate agricultural innovations, particularly with regard to sustainability, biosecurity and agritech innovation.

This statement was signed in Christchurch on 15 November 2019.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

The Hon. Bridget McKenzie
Minister for Agriculture

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

The Hon. Damien O’Connor
Minister for Agriculture

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