NEW Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston has acknowledged that the WA agricultural industry needs strong government leadership if it is to prosper.
Mr Baston was the keynote speaker at a Committee for Economic Development (CEDA) luncheon held last week, that was titled 'WA Agriculture - From Mining Boom to Dining Boom'.
Mr Baston was joined on stage by several other speakers including author, journalist, editor and science communicator, Julian Cribb, Influential Women managing director Catherine Marriot, Murdoch University Biosecurity and Food Security chair Professor Shashi Sharma and ANZ corporate agribusiness director WA and SA, Alan Read.
While no speaker could provide any insight into when the impending food boom may hit, all agreed there would be significant opportunities to come from the Asian Century.
But in the meantime, farmers in WA are looking for policy leadership and commitment to the industry to ensure there will still be an adequate number of farmers left in a position to capitalise on the impending boom.
And no mention was made of other agricultural giants such as South America, who are also no doubt well placed to grab their share of the coming prosperous times in the Asian market.
But Mr Baston said strategic direction would be needed to drive WA's push to get a piece of the food boom.
He also believes it will take a combined effort from all stakeholders to gain WA's fair share.
"The government's role is to establish strong relationships with our neighbours, while also driving new regional agricultural food developments," he said.
"We also need to increase the profile of WA produce with clever marketing but it will be up to the growers to increase production to meet the increased demand."
Mr Baston said the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) was already helping grow WA's share of the food market and cited such initiatives as the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre as an example.
He said DAFWA was also working with commercial WA companies to broker arrangements with Asian companies.
Mr Baston said significant capital investment would be required to expand WA's agricultural sector to meet the potential demand in the north.
"Foreign investment is very important to our agrifood sector and the State Government welcomes it along the agrifood supply chain," he said.
"It is not a new idea to have external funding in agriculture and food processes, for example the Carlton Hill station, in the Kimberley is owned by British company Terra Firma.
"What has been changing over time is where this investment has been coming from and strong interest is now coming from our Asian neighbours.
"If we are to maintain and expand our export growth, billions of dollars are going to be needed right now and throughout the next decade and unfortunately Australian investment is not immediately available to make up that shortfall."
Mr Baston said government would work with industry to develop a plan for the sector's long-term success, but also acknowledged that changes wouldn't happen overnight.
"We need to be working hard now to facilitate relationships and investment but serious and co-ordinated efforts are needed from the sector to increase profitability and generate the growth needed to take advantage of the dining boom," he said.
"Everyone involved has a role to play and will need to work together.
"DAFWA's Agrifood 2025+ initiative included a workshop that identified leadership and access to capital as the major issues and agreed an overarching agriculture and food council should be set up to draw industries closer together and my office is in the process of establishing this advisory council at present.
"While the government cannot be the sole and primary driver to this end, we are committed to supporting the sector as an active department.
"Stronger, clearer and more cohesive leadership is needed along with ongoing discussion."
