International developments and sustainable agriculture in Australia

Abstract

Until recently, Australia's agricultural development policies were guided by socioeconomic objectives that seldom included care for the environment, much less the concept of ecologically sustainable agriculture. During the past decade or so, however, not only changing attitudes at home but also increasing international economic integration and heightened environmental concerns abroad are forcing Australian policymakers to rethink agriculture's role in the economy and society. This increasing emphasis on sustainability presents today's farmers and agricultural policymakers with both a set of new opportunities and some new policy and research challenges. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the analysis and debate on sustainable agriculture in Australia by seeking answers to the following questions. First, what are the implications for the sustainability of Australian agriculture of international trade agreements? And second, what impact will recent or prospective international agreements with environmental and health provisions, and unilateral changes to environmental policies, have on Australian agriculture? Show more