The future of Australian agricultural exports is in the spotlight this week, in the lead up to the 2025 Federal Election and in the wake of recent tariff decisions from the United States.
Currently approximately 70 percent of Australia’s agricultural production is exported and is worth around $80 billion to our economy.
As a sector, we are experienced in the export space and primary producers are no strangers to trade risks and opportunities, well aware that protectionism and punitive trade policies have the potential for real impacts on their businesses
The sector is watching the issues arising in the United States and China closely, but also in Europe where the European Union’s one-size-fits-all deforestation policies, and proposed imposition of the Geographical Indicator (GI) food naming rights system on Australian producers and consumers present a concern for many farmers and associated supply chains.
It is, however, important to understand diplomatic and trade challenges are only one potential area that matter to our agricultural export markets. As global trade tensions intensify, and the industry strives to navigate new tariffs and changing supply chains and new ways to sure up global engagement, how we perform on the domestic front is more important than ever.
Australia’s track record in being able to keep out some the world’s worst pests and diseases has long provided our agricultural exporters a competitive advantage. We must remain vigilant in protecting our shores from a future of increasing biosecurity risks and get serious about getting on top of the basics like wild pig numbers, the spread of red imported fire ants and ensuring we take a whole of government and whole of industry approach to biosecurity responsibilities.
We could also talk about the importance of workforce planning for the future, water and energy security, strategic land use planning – some of the critical factors when it comes to the future of agriculture in Queensland and our ability to succeed on the world stage.
So, while the international trade policy situation continues to unfold, it is important to remain focused on what we need to do domestically as well as internationally to build a strong future for agriculture. Australian policymakers need to be thinking about the impacts their decisions are having on Australia’s potential as an agricultural exporter and work closely with industry to ensure we are putting the right policies in place, and not kicking an own goal right here at home.
QFF and our peak body members will continue to work with the Queensland Government on the issues that matter to agriculture and will be calling on federal government contenders in the upcoming election to prioritise and make commitments that support the future viability and competitiveness of Australian primary production.