AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey says nurturing emerging industries and helping them to get established will be essential if Australian agriculture is to meet its $100b production target by 2030.
"If we look to past success stories for Australian agricultural industries that have emerged, canola is the ultimate example," Mr Harvey said.
"From a small industry with limited success in Australian conditions, research and development turned canola into an essential major export crop that is now worth well over $1b to the economy annually.
"Then, there is tea tree oil and ginger that AgriFutures Australia has seen progress in the past five years from 'emerging' to 'established' industries that now each contribute more than $30 million annually in GVP."
Mr Harvey's comments come as the SA industrial hemp industry is calling on the state government to better support the sector and help establish markets for the niche crop.
Good Country Hemp's Mick Andersen says government assistance is needed to help raise awareness of the high nutritional value of hemp foods.
"It would require money and good industry development but it would return dividends to the government, especially if it includes the fibre aspect where there is a lot of potential too," he said.
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