THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

Agriculture is widely regarded as the lifeblood of an economy - providing job, labour, income and export opportunities, and more crucially, food for a nation. But it has become potentially even more important throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic - as feeding the nation truly is an essential service.

With the panic buying setting in at the beginning of the pandemic, Australia’s food security was put under the microscope. However what was revealed was that - thanks to a strong and resilient agricultural sector - we enjoy some of the best food security in the world.

In fact, Australia ranks in the top 10% of countries under the Global Food Security Index, as defined by the World Food Summit. The index ranks countries on criteria including food affordability, availability, quality and safety. 

As a nation, we produce more than we consume, meaning we contribute significantly to the food security of other nations. In fact, the number currently sits at around 70 percent of our agricultural produce that we export. While exporting may not be directly benefiting Australian households for the most part, the producers growing these products for export are relying on the ability to export to turn a profit. 

Thankfully, despite many restrictions, agriculture - incorporating farming, forestry, fibre production, food and beverage production and agriculture saleyards and auctions - has been deemed an essential service, allowing it to continue.

Moving forward through this unprecedented time and beyond, our industry has the potential to assist even more Australians, and on a level deeper than just providing food that stocks our supermarket shelves. There are job opportunities right throughout the sector that will inevitably need to be filled and conversely, many Australians finding themselves out of work, or on reduced hours.

From maintaining food production supply lines, to transportation and logistics, and even selling to the end-user, the agricultural industry could very well become a lifeline to many more Australians heavily impacted by COVID-19.