Push to change agribusiness expectations

AGRIBUSINESS Australia chair and Elders boss Mark Allison was the guest speaker at AA's first event for 2021, outlining findings from a new report called "Changing Community Expectations - implications and strategies for the Australian agribusiness industry".

The report builds on the theme of achieving a $300-billion agri-sector by 2030 and is the third in a series of reports commissioned by AA that "seek to identify and explore key macro trends that will play a leading role in shaping the future direction of Australia's agribusiness industry", he said.

"There can be little question that the expectations Australian society has of the agribusiness industry in today's world have evolved significantly over the past decade," he said.

"Growing awareness and a sense of urgency around environmental and social issues had led to an expectation that the agribusiness industry must act responsibly and sustainably.

"To achieve its stated growth ambitions to build a $300b Australian food and agribusiness industry by 2030, the industry must increasingly engage with the Australian community and adopt new and innovative ways to validate its social licence to operate."

Due to COVID travel restrictions, Mr Allison had to live-stream his presentation from Sydney to the offices of BDO in Adelaide.