Australian Agricultural Sector Research Articles

Toward biodefence: a framework for the mitigation of malicious threats to livestock production enterprises in Australia

Biosecurity underpins the Australian agricultural sector, estimated to be worth $51 billion in exports and trade, $50 billion in tourism, $5.7 trillion in environmental assets, and more than 1.6 million jobs. Given the value to the Australian economy and the potential consequences of a deliberately introduced biological agent, measures to prevent malicious biosecurity threats are critical for national security. Using the framework of Situational Crime Prevention (SCP), the study examined recommended biosecurity practices for cattle production enterprises in Australia and explored the extent to which the Australian biosecurity framework is underpinned by preventative security. The study found the existing biosecurity framework has limited theoretical security underpinning and is constituted by practices primarily aimed at preventing naturally occurring and accidental threats, rather than an active preventative security approach at the farming level to mitigate threats of a malicious or deliberate nature. These findings identify a deficit in Australia’s national security approach to biosecurity in cattle production enterprises, establishing a need for biosecurity recommendations at an industry and primary production level to embed security theory and principles to account for malicious actors in alignment with international biodefence strategy. Subsequently, the study demonstrated how security theory can be applied to biosecurity and the agricultural sector more broadly and developed an SCP framework toward biodefence of agriculture, converging biosecurity and security as a bilateral approach to mitigating naturally occurring, accidental, and deliberate biosecurity threats.

Radiative forcing climate footprints in the agricultural sector: Comparison of models from the IPCC 5th and 6th Assessment Reports

To achieve the goal in the Paris Agreement of limiting mean global temperature rise to 1.5 ​°C, total anthropogenic radiative forcing (RF) should be reduced from current 2.7 to around 1.9 ​W ​m−2. A newly developed RF-based climate footprint (RFCF) indicator, which quantifies the additional contribution to RF associated with current and historical emissions, can support transparent alignment with climate stabilization targets by assessing the profile of RF over time. Nevertheless, RFCF applications to date have been based on parameters and equations from IPCC 5th Assessment Report (AR). Considering the latest updates in the IPCC 6th AR, we applied the RFCF approach for the first time in a case study involving the Australian agricultural sector. We compared the RF, RFCF and annual changes in RFCF of CH4, N2O and CO2 using both models. All the results of RF as well as RFCF calculated using the latest model were slightly lower than those obtained using the former model. The agricultural sector's contribution to RF had plateaued in recent years and is projected to reach the point of net zero increase in 2022 (IPCC 6th AR model) or 2023 (IPCC 5th AR model). Considering the latest updates in emission lifetime, radiative efficiency and indirect effects based on the background concentration (1750–2019), the assessments based on IPCC 6th AR model provide more reliable results. However, a dynamic model is required to reflect the additional RF for the pulse emission based on the relevant climate background in the same year. The RF-based footprint approach can support national greenhouse gas emission reduction policy targets, especially for sectors with substantial biogenic methane emissions.

Quantification of cytosol and membrane proteins in rumen epithelium of sheep with low or high CH4 emission phenotype.

BackgroundRuminant livestock are a major contributor to Australian agricultural sector carbon emissions. Variation in methane (CH4) produced from enteric microbial fermentation of feed in the reticulo-rumen of sheep differs with different digestive functions.MethodWe isolated rumen epithelium enzymatically to extract membrane and cytosol proteins from sheep with high (H) and low (L) CH4 emission. Protein abundance was quantified using SWATH-mass spectrometry.ResultsThe research found differences related to the metabolism of glucose, lactate and processes of cell defence against microbes in sheep from each phenotype. Enzymes in the methylglyoxal pathway, a side path of glycolysis, resulting in D-lactate production, differed in abundance. In the H CH4 rumen epithelium the enzyme hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase (HAGH) was 2.56 fold higher in abundance, whereas in the L CH4 epithelium lactate dehydrogenase D (LDHD) was 1.93 fold higher. Malic enzyme 1 which converts D-lactate to pyruvate via the tricarboxylic cycle was 1.57 fold higher in the L CH4 phenotype. Other proteins that are known to regulate cell defence against microbes had differential abundance in the epithelium of each phenotype.ConclusionDifferences in the abundance of enzymes involved in the metabolism of glucose were associated with H and L CH4 phenotype sheep. Potentially this represents an opportunity to use protein markers in the rumen epithelium to select low CH4 emitting sheep.

Energy audits and eco-feedback: Exploring the barriers and facilitators of agricultural energy efficiency improvements on Australian farms

This paper aims to understand the farm-level barriers and opportunities to greater energy efficiency in the Australian agricultural sector. Using a mixed methods approach informed by social practice theory, we detail the experiences of 12 farmers who received an energy audit and energy use feedback dashboard (eco-feedback) through government-supported energy efficiency initiatives. Findings suggest on-farm energy use is dictated by a number of heterogeneous factors and practices, where despite an overall positive reception to the interventions, a lack of available time, funds, complicated electricity tariffs and inadaptability of practices represent barriers to energy efficient actions. In response, this paper makes suggestions for the design of energy efficiency initiatives, policy and farm-specific eco-feedback, including: (1) Increased support around tariff navigation, (2) consideration of farmers’ financial circumstances in audit recommendations, (3) a re-ordering of program instruments and (4) designing eco-feedback specifically for farmers, including hardware that supports multiple meters, and real-time water use feedback.

Promotion of Safe Work Practices in the Agricultural Sector through Coaching as a Training Strategy in Australia

There is currently, and historically, a high rate of workplace incidents and fatalities in the Australian Agricultural sector. This paper considers the use of coaching as a mechanism for provision of best practice safety training and development of a safety culture in Agricultural work places, particularly based on the current industry profiles and preferred methods of workplace learning. Current studies, including Safe Work Australia and AgHealth Australia data, and literature, such as Krauesslar and Passmore (2015) and Somes (2018), are reviewed to explain how coaching can enable workers to feel motivated and involved in workplace safety, and in effect, reducing the incidence of workplace injuries and fatalities. As such, the paper considers ‘what is the most successful training method to develop a stronger health and safety culture in the Agricultural Sector?’ The discussion finds that the most commonly and most effective learning approaches utilized in agricultural settings are based on ‘farmers learning from farmers’. This is effectively a coaching approach, and in turn, workplace coaching should be considered as a generic foundation skill taught to all workers in Agriculture to encourage effective consultation practices and communication between workers. The development of coaching skills can occur through their inclusion in formal training programs, such Certificate III or IV level programs in Vocational Education and Training and through short specific targeted programs.

Agricultural Households: An Exploratory Analysis Revisiting Financial Position and Well‐being in Australia*

As the issue of agricultural household economic well‐being begins to resurface, we use custom data sets to compare the financial position of agricultural households to the general Australian population. We find that agricultural households tend to have higher levels of wealth compared to households in the average Australian population, yet experience more income volatility on average. Our study brings attention to the important well‐being issue while also highlighting the need to collect robust farm household data in order to better understand the complex dynamics of household well‐being in the Australian agricultural sector.

The impact of managerial discretion on fair value information in the Australian agricultural sector

AbstractThis study examines the application of fair value measurement for biological assets and how managers exercise their discretion over fair value measurement to achieve desired earnings outcomes. Using Australian data, we find that managers report larger agricultural gains when the earnings target is not met. This phenomenon is more prominent when managers are provided with higher levels of discretion. Boards of directors appear to understand this strategy and distinguish unrealised agricultural earnings from other earnings when compensating managers. However, boards do not appear to intervene in managers’ choices of fair value estimates.

Is fair value information relevant to investment decision-making: Evidence from the Australian agricultural sector?

Despite major accounting standards boards worldwide continuing to use fair value extensively, academic evidence on the relevance of fair value accounting has focused on financial assets. This study breaks new ground to provide the first empirical evidence for the agricultural sector on the relevance of fair value accounting. It examines the forecasting power of the fair value of biological assets for future operating cash flows. Using all agribusinesses listed in Australia, where fair value accounting was first implemented in the agricultural sector, we find that fair value of biological assets does not provide incremental forecasting power for future operating cash flows, whether market-determined prices or managerially estimated value is used. The findings of this study provide empirical support for the call by Elad and Herbohn in 2011 for the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to revisit the implementation of fair value accounting in the agricultural sector. JEL Classification: G14, G38, M41, Q18

Is the agricultural industry spared from the influence of the Australian carbon tax?

The Australian agricultural sector provides food security for the nation and affects the livelihood of farmers and the development of rural communities. This sector has been uneasy about the Australian carbon tax scheme introduced in July 2012 although the government has exempted the agricultural sector from the scheme. By employing a computable general equilibrium model and an environmentally extended Social Accounting Matrix, this article simulates the effects of different carbon tax policy scenarios. The modeling results show that all agricultural sectors will be affected negatively but to differing degrees. The household compensation policy will improve the performance of the poultry and fishing sectors, while having opposite effects in the other agricultural sectors. The inclusion of the agricultural industry into the carbon tax scheme will lead to a considerable further decrease in output, employment and profitability in the agricultural sector, and a significant further reduction in real GDP, but a much larger emission reduction.

The importance of farmer education in South Australia

There is a significant challenge involved with balancing food security at local and global levels whilst mitigating the environmental and social consequences of the historically productivist agri-food system. This work will address the importance of education in the South Australian agricultural sector as a tool to maximise beneficial outcomes. The results of a blended method research project, which involved farmers and governance stakeholders in South Australia, are presented as empirical evidence highlighting the positive roles that formal education, in particular university education, have in regard to increasing sustainability. It was found that higher levels of formal education contributed to farmers being more likely to prioritise the socio-environmental outcomes of their agricultural land use. There was also a dramatic reduction in farmer concerns with government support mechanisms as education levels went from secondary or less, through to vocational qualifications, and finally university degrees. Interviews with agricultural governance stakeholders emphasised the role of education in building the adaptive capacity of farmers, and the subsequent positive outcomes for the future development of the South Australian agricultural industry. These results suggest that further education provides farmers with the capacity to compete effectively in a liberalised economy.

Drivers of Adoption of Safety Innovations on Australian Cotton Farms

The Australian cotton industry has been a leader in the adoption of farm health and safety approaches in the Australian agricultural sector. In order to analyze factors associated with occupational health and safety performance, a review of available information and key stakeholder interviews were conducted A recently defined model for adoption of farm safety, emphasizing individual behavioral, environmental, community, and governmental factors, was used as the framework for the assessment. This hazard-based examination of changes describes improvements that have positively impacted health and safety. Improvements include: reduction in vehicle and on-farm traffic systems, safer irrigation systems, changes in cultivation technology, changes in pesticides and application technology, changes in harvest technology, adoption of gene technology, adoption of occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems, and government regulation. The introduction of genetically modified cotton has directly reduced potential exposure to pesticides, and it has indirectly impacted safety by, for example, reducing traffic flow on farms. This study demonstrates the considerable innovation and positive safety enhancements across the Australian cotton industry with respect to the interaction of management and production systems. These lessons should be used develop effective interventions in other agricultural industries.

Exploring the impact of R&D and climate change on agricultural productivity growth: the case of Western Australia*

This article empirically examines the impact of R&D and climate change on the Western Australian Agricultural sector using standard time series econometrics. Based on historical data for the period of 1977–2005, the empirical results show that both R&D and climate change matter for long‐run productivity growth. The long‐run elasticity of total factor productivity (TFP) with respect to R&D expenditure is 0.497, while that of climate change is 0.506. There is a unidirectional causality running from R&D expenditure to TFP growth in both the short run and long run. Further, the variance decomposition and impulse response function confirm that a significant portion of output and productivity growth beyond the sample period is explained by R&D expenditure. These results justify the increase in R&D investment in the deteriorating climatic condition in the agricultural sector to improve the long‐run prospects of productivity growth.

Matching training needs and opportunities: the case for training brokers in the Australian agricultural sector

Lifelong learning has been linked by policymakers to economic and social wellbeing. This paper introduces the concept of training brokerage as an efficient way of meeting the needs of learners, industry and education and training providers. It presents findings from a study of the features, processes and outcomes of training brokerage arrangements within the Australian agricultural and natural resource management sectors. The purpose of the study was to identify and promote effective brokerage arrangements and models. The study used multi‐method, multi‐site techniques, comprising a telephone survey, case studies of good broking practice and stakeholder participation through workshops and a reference group. Training brokers act as facilitators or intermediaries in identifying and matching training needs and opportunities. They have close links with industry, and extensive networks that include reputable training providers. Brokers work with others to identify training needs and engage participants, and to identify, negotiate and plan appropriate training. Evaluation and further training are a key part of the process. Effective broking activity is underpinned by a series of ten generic principles. Brokerage has implications for the agricultural sector in developed and developing countries, in terms of improving the match of training provision to training needs, communication, coordination and collaboration across regions and industries. It also has broader implications for facilitating participation in client‐driven lifelong learning, particularly for disenfranchised learners.

Environmentally adjusted productivity measurement: An Australian case study

This paper critically examines various methods for estimating productivity incorporating environmental effects for the Australian agricultural sector. The agricultural sector has been selected because of its strategic position in the economy of Australia. The findings of this study indicate that the application of environmentally adjusted productivity methods is a credible approach to measure productivity, in the context of sustainable development. Although the empirical findings of this research are case study specific, the results provide evidence supporting the adoption of these techniques to other sectors of the economy when measuring productivity and needing to be cognisant of sustainable development. The findings suggest that adjusting for the environmental impacts of soil erosion can result in higher or lower agricultural productivity depending on the assumptions we make regarding damage costs of erosion. It is argued in this paper that, for soil erosion in Australia, assumptions yielding higher productivity (i.e., upwardly adjusted) are justified. Finally, the findings of this study and the use of the methods presented point to important gaps in data availability. This gap needs to be addressed by policy makers if sustainable development objectives are to be credibly assessed using these techniques.

User participation in decision support systems development: Influencing system outcomes

Despite the widely held view that systems are more likely to be successful if users are involved during systems development, there is uncertainty about the exact nature of the relationship between user participation and system outcomes. There has been considerable research activity in this area but findings are inconclusive. Comparatively little qualitative research has been reported. This paper reports an interpretive study that examined the development process for 38 decision support systems in the Australian agricultural sector. The relationship between user participation and system outcome was explored. The degree of user influence in the design process was found to be an important component of this relationship. Degree of user influence was a result of both the type and depth of user participation. Much previous research has focused on whether users were involved in development without detailed consideration of the degree of influence on design features resulting from this participation. The results from this study are significant in that they yield theoretical insights into the phenomenon of user participation and related system outcomes. In addition, the results have practical significance for practitioners developing decision support software.

The Australian Wool Crisis: Farm Adjustment Pressures and Strategies

ABSTRACTFarm adjustment has resulted from the present crisis of production within the Australian agricultural sector. Farm adjustment pressures of the wool growers of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales are outlined. The primary management strategies adopted by the wool producers are identified. Three farm adjustment strategies were noted; extensification, diversification and expansion. Choice of farm strategy was dependent on the characteristics of both the individual farm and farmer.

The ORANI approach to quantitative modelling of the Australian agricultural sector

ORANI is a very large multisectoral general equilibrium model built as part of the IMPACT Project, a joint endeavour by several agencies of the Australian government in conjunction with the University of Melbourne. It contains a number of innovations, some of which refer specifically to agriculture. This paper summarises the ORANI approach to the quantitative modelling of the Australian agricultural sector. Topics addressed include: the input-output data base required to specify an agricultural model within an economy-wide framework, the theory needed to describe the data, solution method, and model applications to contemporary policy issues. Experience from the Project emphasises (i) the value of a sound theoretical foundation to large scale model building and (ii), the importance of analysing agricultural economic policy issues within a framework which captures both direct and indirect linkages with the non-agricultural domestic economy.

A QUARTERLY MODEL OF THE AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR*

Several farm sector econometric models are reviewed initially and the aggregation problem highlighted. A thirty‐equation model of the Australian agricultural sector is specified in which farm output, stocks and exports and the domestic demand for farm products are endogenous, as well as farm, export and retail prices. Disaggregation is into food and non‐food components of unprocessed output, and the processing of food is traced through to final demand. The model is estimated by a modified 2SLS procedure using quarterly data covering the period 1960‐1970.

FACTOR SUBSTITUTION IN AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE

Studies of the ease of substitution between inputs in production have generally been carried out within a production framework of an explicit functional form. In this study, a somewhat different approach is followed. A model of derived demand for primary factors of production, land, labour and capital is formulated to enable inferences to be made about the characteristics of the unspecified production function. The model is used to obtain estimates of the pairwise Allen‐Uzawa substitution elasticities which are secondary parameters of the underlying production function. The reported FIML estimates from aggregate time series data for the period 1920/21 to 1969/70 indicate very low and marginally different substitution elasticities between different pairs of factors, suggesting that both the Cobb‐Douglas and CES production function specifications for the Australian agricultural sector are inappropriate.