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Can Australia become the Food Bowl of Asia?

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  • Adamson, David

Abstract

Knowledge decay is arguably the greatest threat facing rural Australia. Knowledge decay allows us to ignore what we have already learnt, allowing for the reinfestation of bad policies. Thus just like a cockroach, a bad policy is difficult to flush (Krugman 2011). In a world full of zombie economics (Quiggin 2010) and the pursuit of a 5 second sound bite we have to examine the proposition of the question. “Can Australia become the food bowl of Asia?” I will retort it’s not about to where Australia exports nor how much we export. Rather the question should be how can we make Australian agriculture profitable? To examine this alternative question, this essay will examine the following three issues: should producers and researcher concentrate on productivity or profit, how do we deal with risks and uncertainties in a policy environment; and finally we examine the logic of targeting Asia or the entire world, in an attempt to negate future flushing.

Suggested Citation

  • Adamson, David, 2013. "Can Australia become the Food Bowl of Asia?," Risk and Sustainable Management Group Working Papers 157080, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uqsers:157080
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.157080
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Adamson & Thilak Mallawaarachchi & John Quiggin, 2009. "Declining inflows and more frequent droughts in the Murray-Darling Basin: climate change, impacts and adaptation ," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 53(3), pages 345-366, July.
    2. Grewal, Harsharn S. & Maheshwari, Basant & Parks, Sophie E., 2011. "Water and nutrient use efficiency of a low-cost hydroponic greenhouse for a cucumber crop: An Australian case study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(5), pages 841-846, March.
    3. Anderson, Kym & Nelgen, Signe, 2012. "Trade Barrier Volatility and Agricultural Price Stabilization," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 36-48.
    4. Anderson, Jock R. & Dillon, John L. & Hardaker, Brian, 1977. "Agricultural Decision Analysis," Monographs: Applied Economics, AgEcon Search, number 288652, July.
    5. -, 2009. "The economics of climate change," Sede Subregional de la CEPAL para el Caribe (Estudios e Investigaciones) 38679, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
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