Dr Emerson, Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Asian Century Policy, and Senator Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, launched Feeding the Future – A Joint Australia–China Report on Strengthening Investment and Technological Cooperation in Agriculture to Enhance Food Security on 20 December 2012. The report marks a new era in agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
The report provides a blueprint to raise rural productivity and increase Australia’s role in supplying global food markets. The report outlines practical ways to strengthen investment and technological cooperation in agriculture between Australia and China.
This landmark study is an historic undertaking as it marks the first time that the Australian and Chinese Governments have worked together on this kind of project. This report is a model for bilateral cooperation, and demonstrates what can be achieved when the two Governments work together.
The report is an important first step in establishing a best–practice approach to Australia–China cooperation in agriculture to enhance global food security.
The Asian Century White Paper included as one of its national objectives that Australia’s agriculture and food production systems will be globally competitive, with productive and sustainable agriculture and food businesses.
This report is an important contribution to achieving this objective and will assist Australian food producers and processors in being recognised globally as innovative and reliable producers of more and higher–quality food and agricultural products.