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Vision Statement
The economy of North Queensland is heavily reliant on tourism (40% regional GDP); fishing, farming and grazing (8% regional GDP). The dangers of over-reliance on a few commodities have been highlighted recently in tourism by September 11th, the Bali bombing and SARS, while in agriculture the sugar and dairy industries are struggling to remain economically viable and the tobacco industry has planted its last crop. The need for ‘Diversification' has been mentioned frequently in the media and by Government, but how can it be achieved? It's clear that it will require both collaboration and innovation by individuals, entrepreneurs, companies, a host of old and new organizations and by Government at the Local, State and Federal level to create "Sustainable Futures".
Vision for a productive and diversified landscape
Imagine the change to the landscape if widespread agricultural diversification were to occur. The ranges would still be well covered by forests, but the farmland could look very different, with the more marginal soils, the creek banks and the coastal fringe covered with tree crops. Broadacre Ecosystems working with agriculture Plantings like those described above can be added in small areas each year so that the landscape develops sequentially over time and becomes a dynamic series of patches made up of the array of cultivated species (the planned biodiversity) interspersed with all the native vegetation and associated wildlife (unplanned biodiversity) that will fill the ecological niches created by these plantings and increase the resilience of the rest of the property. To avoid the situation where these areas become a refuge for pests and diseases, their connectivity and configuration in the landscape should be such that they provide wildlife with corridors to the forest. In this way the populations can be maintained in ecological balance, so that the food chains are not broken, and the pests and diseases are subject to the natural checks and balances provided by predators and natural enemies. The combination of integrated pest and natural soil fertility management reduces the input costs of these more ecological approaches to farming. In Queensland, where flying foxes and certain bird species are serious pests on fruit farms, this will pose a management challenge. Changes in orchard design will take time to have beneficial effects and will have to be done on a large enough scale to promote ecosystem function. Agroforestry for ecologically sustainable agriculture in North Queensland The above vision is very different from the current over-dependence on high input monocultures driven by external prescriptions. It represents a shift away from inappropriate temperate systems of farming and the uptake of individual innovative land use systems much more in tune with tropical ecosystems and their soils. Tropical soils and agroecosystems are fragile and easily degraded by intensive, high input European farming systems. In this connection, it is interesting and highly relevant that throughout the world, a similar change is in progress in tropical countries where monocultures are being abandoned and agroforestry is becoming the recognised approach to sustainable agricultural production. Agroforestry is an approach to developing an agroecological succession, which mimics the ecological functions of natural ecosystems, but is based on the integration of commercially valuable species into the niches of a mixed farming system. Some excellent examples of this type of agriculture have been developed in a number of tropical countries around the world. The challenge facing Queenslanders is how to adapt these concepts to larger-scale, mechanised farming practices. Socio-economic and commercial diversification Diversified products The second part of this vision involves the economic and commercial diversification that is required to support diversified agriculture and create a rich and diverse commercial sector producing, processing and trading "branded" products from a Sustainable Region. It is clearly evident that if farmers are wishing to grow new crops that there has to be a market demand for the products. Thus involving the business community in diversification is an essential component of a strategy to diversify the farming systems. North Queensland has the business equivalent of several large monocultures, including tourism, sugar and livestock and the solution of commercial diversification mirrors, to some extent. that of diversifying the farming system. The markets for some of the products that could be produced in North Queensland are currently small. Thus a two-pronged approach to market expansion is required. Firstly, through better, expanded and more local processing of existing products it will be possible to increase the opportunities for value-adding and local employment. This will consequently lead to expanded trade to others parts of Australia, ASEAN and Pacific countries. There is significant potential for increased trade with the nearby SE Asian market. Secondly, through innovative business and opportunistic entrepreneurism it would be possible to create entirely new trade opportunities, including a range of bio-technology enterprises. As an example, with the current interest worldwide in the cuisine of other nations, both as representative restaurants and as products for supermarket shelves; there seems to be little reason to think that there are not great opportunities for well-marketed Australian cuisine based on native plants, animals and indigenous culture. Such a venture would include indigenous peoples as the custodians of the native species and could open up market opportunities for a range of species as dozens of ‘branded" varieties of different sauces, flavourings, jams, chutneys, meat, fruits, beverages, nutriceuticals, etc., not to mention aboriginal artefacts and local species of cut flowers and foliage as part of the national ambience. There is also a role for Queensland's quality woods and cabinet timbers for a host of ornamental fittings, craft items and surfaces. The domestication of indigenous plants as improved cultivars meeting the needs of different industries could ideally be a special role for the indigenous communities. This would meet the principles of the international Convention on Biological Diversity, and importantly give them a key role of cultural, social and economic significance for their communities and in the economic development of the region. There is a need for education and training at all levels in this process of enhancing the critical mass of the business sector and the commercial skills of the North Queensland population. Diversifying markets To benefit from diversified agricultural production, NQ will have to develop light industry close to the areas of production. As a starting point, much of this may depend on the development of small industries on individual farms, or as local co-operatives, aimed at the Gourmet food industry and other niche markets. An alternative, currently under investigation, is to examine the possibility of expanding the activities of existing sugar mills so that their infrastructure, including the trains, could be used throughout the year to transport and process a wider range of products, such as fruit juices, fibreboard, timber veneers, etc. This essential diversification of industry requires businessmen and women to see the opportunities for investment in the region's future and the opportunity to advertise and trade trans-nationally on the Internet. A culture of innovation and informed risk taking will be cultivated by nurturing existing and new business operators. They will be encouraged to diversify through processes that celebrate success, share information, facilitate relationships, develop skills and harness the energy inherent in the passions of individuals. In the Cairns area there are already many small and highly specialised businesses, mostly focussed at present on the domestic and tourist industry. To encourage commercial diversification these and new business operators require confidence to expand their horizons and create a model for the rest of the world in ‘sustainable prosperity' (economic/social/cultural/ecological sustainability). The primary challenge is how to effect this change in culture? Initiating a major change in the ways that the farming community does its business is a major challenge, but on the other hand the current financial and environmental problems of the rural economy provides the majority of agricultural producers with a great incentive to try something different. Nevertheless, change will only come if all the potential participants understand and accept the need for change and see benefits in pursuing this vision. Encouragingly, a series of recent meetings to discuss the potential of diversification through embracing the principles of agroforestry have been remarkably well attended by a wide spectrum of people involved and interested in the rural development of the region. Out of these meetings has arisen the proposal to develop a Network for Sustainable and Diversified Agriculture (NSDA) to bring together all the various actors from over 60 organizations (see Appendix) pertinent to the diversification of the rural economy, who are currently operating independently.
THE NEED FOR AN INTEGRATED NETWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE AND DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE AND ITS SUPPORT INDUSTRIES.
Purpose of the Network To collectively coordinate, promote and advocate activities and information that will assist in the implementation of the principles of sustainable and diversified agriculture (agroforestry) towards:
The structure and function of the Network A central secretariat would initially be staffed by an employed Coordinator, who will be supported by a Steering Committee made up of representatives of a number of Cluster Groups, each of which will represents one specific focus of the Network (see diagram below). The Cluster Groups include some existing Cairns Regional Economic Development Corporarion (CREDC) business clusters, such as Australian Tropical Foods, Biotechnology North Queensland (BioNQ), the emerging Cut Flower and Native Foliage cluster and other groupings like the Queensland Organic Producers Association. Other cluster representatives will have to be drawn from the horticultural growers and agricultural producers, currently unstructured or partially structured sectors, such as the forestry/wood products sector, and the research and education communities.
The Network will work towards developing a common vision for diversified agricultural and business development in the region by encouraging cohesion in the community through:-
Together these activities could lead to the emergence of economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits throughout the region, reducing vulnerability to market fluctuations and global disasters, while positively promoting economic revival in the farming industry, as well as the conservation of Queensland's unique natural resources and culture. Within the Network, it is envisaged that decision-making should be resolved at the lowest possible level of the network, and issues and problems only brought up to the next level if a wider constituency is needed to resolve a problem or support an action. The Network for Sustainable and Diversified Agriculture seeks your support and interest.
Contact:
Appendix: The following organizations are seen as being potential players within the Network for Sustainable and Diversified Agriculture. Members of many of these organizations have been involved in the discussions leading up to the establishment of the Network.
Research and Development
Forestry Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
James Cook University (JCU)
Support Agencies
Queensland Department of State Development (QDSD) Atherton Neighbourhood Centre (ANC) Gulf Savannah Development (GSD) Cape York Peninsula Development Association (CYPDA)
Sawmillers Queensland Dairy farmers Organization
Growcom (formerly Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers)
Cut Flower and Foliage Groups
Queensland Farmers Federation
AgAware Group
Further reading:
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monocultures will still be common, but they may be aligned more along the contours and separated by mixed species plantings of new crops (many of them tree crops for fruits, nuts, cut-flowers and foliage, and other products including pharmaceuticals, essential oils and timber). Such plantings act as traps for soil and agrochemical run-off to the rivers, improving water quality, a key outcome called for in the Wentworth Report (2002). This outcome would also reduce damage to the reef and the tourism industry. These trees would also restore and maintain the soil biodiversity, which is critical for soil fertility, as well as provide environmental services like carbon sequestration. Tree plantings are expensive to establish and do not provide economic returns in the short-term, so in their early years they can be inter-planted with cash crops like cut flowers, vanilla, vegetables, fibre crops, bush tucker, etc., selected from a database of worldwide tropical knowledge. This rapidly adds diversity to both the economy and the farming system, creating an infinite number of management options, to suit the pocket, the market and the labour supply. These options will also reflect the interest, financial and social situation and the capacity of the household to implement them. The essence of successful diversification is to maintain profitability by growing high-value products with an adequate market demand; while maintaining the landscape as both a mosaic of different farming systems at different stages in their cropping cycles, and where possible, to develop integrated crop mixtures. The lower grade soils may be inappropriate for any form of commercial cropping, but if revegetated can provide habitat for wildlife and support ecosystem health and resilience.