SA farmers help lift food security

Hosted by the Crawford Fund - a not-for-profit organisation helping experienced scientists pass on their knowledge and expertise in food production to scientists in developing countries - attendees at the Facing the Global Food Crisis: The role of research, training and SA expertise forum were told Australian farmers would have a big part to play in feeding Asia's growing population in the years to come.

University of Adelaide professor of economics Kym Anderson revealed developing countries in Asia are expected to almost double their share of the global economy by 2030.

With most of these developing countries densely populated and relying on manufacturing and services for growth, their need to import food and other primary products is set to skyrocket.

Prof Anderson said that if current trading conditions continue, developing Asia's share of global agricultural and food imports will rise from 15 per cent in 2007 to 39pc in 2030 - with China's share alone to jump from 4pc to 27pc.

The region's developing countries are also forecast to consume more than half the world's grain by 2030.

Australian farmers are likely to benefit from this increase, given their close proximity to the Asian market. Free trade agreements with Korea, Japan and China are likely to further increase local exports to Asia, he said.

The forum showcased the critical work being done by SA researchers across the globe, where food security projects are making a huge difference to people in developing countries.

Speakers included SARDI's Philip Glatz discussing his work with aquaculture, pig and poultry farmers in Papua New Guinea and the University of South Australia's Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, who spoke about the important work being done to minimise arsenic accumulation in rice in Bangladesh and India.

University of Adelaide soil expert Ann McNeill detailed how impact funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Crawford Fund have promoted international scientific collaboration, while PhD student Brendan Brown went through some of the many opportunities for students to contribute to international research.