Conference Day One
Tuesday 26 May 2015
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08:15 Registration and welcome coffee
08:50 Opening remarks from the Chair
Jim Pratley, Research Professor of Agriculture, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University
09:00 Keynote Presentation
The outlook for Australia’s agribusiness sector and key commodities
- Examining the role of agribusiness in the Australian economy and the opportunities for growth
- The outlook for Australia’s agribusiness sector to 2020 and beyond
- Examining what is required to boost Australia’s agribusiness productivity growth from an economic perspective
- Identifying key domestic growth commidities
Trish Gleeson, Senior Economist, ABARES
How the Australian agribusiness sector can overcome international competition and global economic uncertainty
09:30 International Keynote Presentation:
Assessing the outlook for Australia’s agricultural exports in the context of
recent Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
- Examining opportunities for Australia to supply Asia’s growing demand for food
- Understanding the implications of recent FTAs with Japan, Korea and China for Australian agricultural exports
- What are the implications of these FTAs in providing growth opportunities for Australian agriculture?
Erizal Jamal, Director Indonesian Institute for Agriculture Technology Transfer, IAARD, Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture
10:00 Keynote Panel Discussion:
The outlook for the global economy and its impact on Australian
agribusiness
- How will economic fluctuations around the world impact onA ustralia’s agribusiness sector?
- What are the key challenges and benefits for Australia arising from developments in the global economy?
- Examining global supply, demand and pricing for key commodities
Moderator:
Jim Pratley, Research Professor of Agriculture, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University
Panellists:
Noel Campbell, President, Australian Dairy Farmers
Trish Gleeson, Senior Economist, ABARES
Peter Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, AGT Foods Australia
10:45 Morning tea
11:15 Panel Discussion:
Examining current and future global competition for Australia’s agricultural
exports
- How are emerging economies influencing the global demand for agricultural products?
- Exploring the interest in Asia’s affluent middle-class from NZ, USA and Europe’s agribusinesses sectors
- Identifying Australia’s competitive advantage in the agriculture sector
- Considering Australia’s close proximity to Asia, which agricultural products should Australia focus on?
- Quantity versus quality – should Australia be aiming to produce more or produce higher quality food, or both?
Moderator:
Jim Pratley, Research Professor of Agriculture, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University
Panellists:
Jason Shearer-Smith, Managing Director, Smithfield Cattle Company
Stephen Morrow, Managing Director, Buderim Ginger
Alicia Garden, Chief Executive Officer, Grain Growers
Mark Lauke, Managing Director, Laucke Flour Mills
Understanding Australia’s opportunities to become a globally recognised supplier of premium products and to meet the growing demand of wealthy consumers
12:00 Turning challenges into opportunities – how ascending standards of living
will impact the consumption of high quality and healthy products
- Assessing whether the commodities we are investing in now are still going to be in demand in 20 years time
- Examining demand and identifying opportunities for traceability and biosecurity certification
- What is the role that officially certified organic food is playing in the growth of wealthy consumers?
- How certified organic products provide a growth opportunity for the Australian Agribusiness sector
Ben Copeman, General Manager, NASAA
Michael Baker, Chief Certification Officer, Australia Certified Organic
12:30 Networking lunch
Examining local and international investment alternatives and funding models for the Australian agribusiness sector
13:30 International Keynote Presentation:
Examining the co-investment model implemented by the US Government to
match rural infrastructure funds with private investors
- Overview of how the US Federal Government has established the rural infrastructure opportunity fund to benefit the American agribusiness sector
- How the US Government’s Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund is improving the return profile where required to stimulate the required investments
- How could Australia adopt a co-investment model?
Hugh Maginnis, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, The United States Department of Agriculture
14:10 Panel Discussion:
How can Australia become a bigger international player in high quality rural
products?
- How to improve the “Australia” food brand overseas and make it synonymous with high quality produce to increase business ventures
- Creating opportunities for Australian producers to gain global recognition for premium products
- Evaluating Australian producers’ ability to meet Asia’s growing demand for food and other agricultura l products
- What are the key commodities that the global market will demand from Australia in the future?
- Reviewing Australia’s current agribusiness investment and funding models
- Reviewing international farm funding models and opportunities to introduce these within Australia
Moderator:
Jim Pratley, Research Professor of Agriculture, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University
Panellists:
Elise Ramsey, Managing Director, AussieMite
Jan Vydra, Managing Director, Australian Fresh Leaf Herbs
Cameron Hall, General Manager - Live Export, Elders
Hugh Maginnis, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture
David Sackett, Managing Director, Growth Farms Australia
15:10 Afternoon tea
15:40 Attracting and retaining overseas institutional investment into Australian
agriculture
- With the Australian banking system currently being the primary source of agribusiness funding, what are the advantages and disadvantages of working with international investors as an alternative source of funding?
- How the Australian government can help improve the financing of the agribusiness sector
- Examining the advantages and disadvantages of expanding overseas institutional investment to support Australia’s export expansion
David Sackett, Managing Director, Growth Farms Australia
Assessing the long terms risks of environmental and productivity instability as a result of climate change
16:10 Panel Discussion:
How might climate volatility threaten growth in the Australian agribusiness
sector?
- What strategies are needed at a state and federal level to help producers deal with the impacts of climate change?
- Exploring the potential for climate volatility research to prevent capital loss
- Managing weather volatility and natural resources to optimize price outcomes
- Reviewing management systems and technologies available for adaptation to and mitigation of potential threats
Moderator:
Jim Pratley, Research Professor of Agriculture, School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University
Panellists:
David Blackmore, Managing Director, Blackmore Wagyu Beef
Mark King, President, Dried Fruits Australia
Luciano González, Associate Professor, The University of Sydney
17:00 Closing remarks from the Chair
17:10 Close of Day One and networking drinks