Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Agriculture is in the news

By Derek Byerlee - posted Friday, 8 February 2008


Australians (and New Zealanders) are among the few citizens of the rich world that can hold their heads high in global trade discussions - unlike other rich countries, they have farm policies that do not distort global prices. For OECD countries as a whole, farm subsidies and protection cost developing countries an average of five times what OECD countries provide in official development assistance.

Moreover, in the absence of farm subsidies, Australia, both through the public sector and farmers themselves, has one of the highest intensities of investment in agricultural R&D in the world, with a strong human and institutional base that provides a rich resource for supporting science in the developing world.

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research is an innovative example of support to agricultural science for development. Finally, Australian scientists have long experience in dealing with the challenges of both dryland and tropical agriculture - knowledge that is directly relevant to conditions in many developing countries.

Advertisement

But to provide leadership, Australia must invest more than the 5 per cent of its official development assistance that currently goes to agriculture, and continue to scale up and sustain its support for and partnerships with national and international agricultural research centers around the world. With world leaders once again paying attention to agriculture, the time to act is now.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All

Co-written by Derek Byerlee, Co-Director; Kym Anderson, Philip Pardey, Julian Alston, Jock Anderson, and Will Martin (Team members), World Bank’s World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development. All authors of this opinion piece are Australian.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

7 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Derek Byerlee, originally from a South Australian sheep/wheat farm, is the Co-Director of the World Bank’s flagship report, The World Development Report. He has dedicated his career to agriculture in developing countries, as a teacher, researcher, administrator and policy advisor.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Derek Byerlee
Article Tools
Comment 7 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy