25-year blueprint for Queensland’s primary industries
ATSE’s submission provides input on four key themes, R&D, climate friendly primary industries, workforce and engaging with custodians of Traditional Knowledge.
Queensland’s primary industries represent a significant opportunity to strengthen Queensland’s economy, develop job opportunities, and provide strong action on climate change. The 25-year Blueprint can take advantage of this opportunity, supporting the sector to become more productive and grow. The Draft Blueprint and its supporting five-year action plans would benefit by recognising the key factors that are essential to the future of Queensland’s primary industries - the importance of research and development in achieving the Blueprint’s aims, the opportunity for the sector to play an important role in emissions reduction, and the need for genuine and respectful engagement with custodians of Traditional Knowledge.
ATSE recommends that the Blueprint considers the following opportunities:
Recommendation 1: Continue to provide state government support to the development of Cooperative Research Centres and other industry-research partnerships, to encourage additional investment in agricultural innovation.
Recommendation 2: Uplift biosecurity research, development and monitoring to ensure Queensland’s primary industries are protected from pests, diseases and antibiotic resistance.
Recommendation 3: Provide support to farmers, through information, on-the-ground advisors and subsidies, to encourage the adoption of low-methane feedstock for livestock.
Recommendation 4: Invest in nutrient stewardship improvements such as supporting uptake of pre-coated nitrogen fertilisers.
Recommendation 5: Encourage and facilitate the establishment of mentorship and capability uplift programs for farmers, farm workers and service providers to ensure they can make the most of technologydriven opportunities.
Recommendation 6: Coordinate with the vocational education and university sectors to modernise agricultural education and training and improve understanding of technological opportunities.
Recommendation 7: Prioritise elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the application of Traditional Knowledge where practical within Queensland’s primary industries.
