How secure is Australia’s food supply?

The podcast examines that critical Issue this week. We talk to Xavier Martin, a broadacre farmer from the Liverpool Plains and the President of the NSW Farmers Association. He says high fuel prices, shortages of fertiliser and uncertain weather patterns are forcing farmers to make decisions to cut back how much food they’re producing.

The show’s second guest is Retired Colonel Neil Greet who served for 30 years including in Iraq and Timor Leste. He also supported the Australian Defence Force response to the deadly Black Saturday Fires in 2009. He’s complied a report for the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group who say there’s a plausible case for regional food shortages emerging over the next 12 months.

Links to reports mentioned:

NSW Farmers Farm Business Sentiment Survey  https://www.nswfarmers.org.au/NSWFA/NSWFA/Posts/News/mr.027.26.aspx

ABARES Agricultural Commodities Report https://daff.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/search/asset/1038221/0/00_AgCommodities202606_v1.0.0.pdf