'If you don't plan, you plan to fail': Consultation for agricultural strategy opens

Reducing red tape, along with utilising the circular economy and emerging technologies, are among the measures touted for the state government’s upcoming long-term agriculture strategy.

Consultation has opened on the strategy’s discussion paper, with submissions open until November 14.

The Tasmanian Government wants to see the annual farmgate value of agriculture in the state reach $10 billion by 2050.

In the 2022-23 financial year, the most up-to-date data, the state’s farmgate value was nearly $2.5 billion. 

TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said he supports the government’s plan to revise its long-term agricultural strategy.

“The old adage ‘if you don’t plan, then you plan to fail’ could never be truer,” Mr Sauer said.

“This is about taking Tasmania forward for the next 25 years and surpassing the targets that have already been set.”

Mr Sauer said there was “no doubt” that the state produced some of the best agricultural products in the world.

“However, for us to compete in the worldwide commodity market is hard.

“So we have to work smarter, not harder, and we need to make sure that our farm gate is well produced economically and is distributed around.

“We see the strategy opening up a range of opportunities – basing the decisions on science - so we can continue to have the best agricultural in Australia and around the world, and be renowned for it.”

Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said the strategy aimed to ensure the government had the right settings in place to support the state’s agricultural industry.

“We know that we need to work together to move our state forward and that’s what this strategy is all about,” Mr Pearce said.

“The strategy will guide how we can best work with industry to boost agricultural productivity and unlock opportunities across freight, agritourism, education, infrastructure and workforce development.

“We know that the adoption of smarter technologies, data-driven practices and precision agriculture will be essential for future industry growth.

“This will be an important focus of the new strategy.”

The discussion paper for the long-term agricultural strategy is available on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.