Australian Agribusiness Perspectives: 2010

Paper 83, 21st July 2010

Potential impact of a carbon charge on profit of a Western District cropping and grazing farm*

Sunday McKay, Peter Small and Bill Malcolm

Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, MSLE

University Of Melbourne

One policy response to climate change in Australia is to create a price for carbon to reduce emissions through the introduction of a policy of emissions trading. The federal government indicated that agriculture would not initially be covered by an emissions trading scheme (ETS), however, it is the sector would be affected indirectly by an ETS even if it was not covered by such a scheme. This report examines the impacts an ETS and associated climatic changes may have on a mixed farming enterprises operating profit. Using a case study farm in the Western District of Victoria, the impacts of an ETS and climatic change on the profitability of the enterprise are modelled under twelve scenarios. These scenarios were constructed using: various emission prices; climatic changes; changes to enterprise mixes; and degrees to which free emissions permits are allocated. The report illustrates that farm productivity growth is crucial for the future viability of the farm enterprise. It also demonstrates the complexities around reducing emissions whilst continuing to meet world food demand.

Paper 82, 29th April 2010

Contemporary issues in the provision of tertiary agriculture programs: a case study of The University of Queensland

 Associate Professor A J Dunne

School of integrative Systems

The University of Queensland

The University of Queensland (UQ) has a long history as a provider of tertiary programs in agriculture and agricultural research. The rapid decline in enrolments in its core undergraduate programs over the past five years has placed the future of these programs in doubt. This paper identifies four key issues that UQ and the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) must address if it is to meet its aspirations to be recognized for excellence and leadership in agricultural education and research. The four issues relate to collaborating more closely and effectively with the employers of its graduates, collaborating with other universities and agencies in the delivery of its programs, integrating the four disciplinary streams of its programs and widening the appeal of its programs.

While this paper concentrates on the analysis of these issues and their management in the context of the agriculture programs at UQ, the issues are relevant to other universities in Australia as they address the impact of declining enrolments and the adequacy of their agriculture programs to meet the challenges that confront the agribusiness sector in the 21^st century.