The CSIRO will partner with governments and the farming industry and invest more than $150 million to reduce the impact of drought on Australia’s farms, increase the country’s food exports and grow the protein industry.
Australia’s national science agency will tip in $79 million, with the $71 million balance put forward by the federal government and industry.
The drought resilience mission will seek out efficient technology to secure water supplies and reduce the impact of droughts by 30% by 2030.
“For over a century, CSIRO has been working with farmers and governments to improve life on this great land – but today we’re bringing all of our newest science and technology, from Artificial Intelligence to genetics and smart materials, to bear on overcoming our oldest national challenge – drought,” CSIRO chief executive Dr Larry Marshall said.
The federal government has already spent more than $8 billion on direct drought relief in the 21st century, while the $5 billion Future Drought Fund launched multiple foundation programs last year, with funding allocated until 2024.
A joint study by the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology found there had been an 11% reduction in crucial winter rains over the southern Murray Darling Basin over the past 20 years, a phenomenon linked to climate change.
Also under the new CSIRO initiatives, Australia food exports would be increased to $10 billion through the trusted agrifood exports mission, via greater access to high-value markets, verify the authenticity of Australian products through new methods of demonstrating food origin, and improve supply chain efficiency through automated export compliance.
The third mission is “future protein”, aiming to grow Australia’s protein industry and produce an additional $10 billion of new products by 2030. Backed by Meat and Livestock Australia and GrainCorp, among others, this would protect and grow existing livestock and aquaculture industries, develop new plant-based products and use new technologies, such as biomanufacturing to create new proteins or even transform waste products into high-value food products, the CSIRO said.
The growing list of partners include GrainCorp, Bureau of Meteorology, Meat and Livestock Australia, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, Austrade, and state governments and universities around the country.
Marshall said the three missions together aim to capture a “$20 billion opportunity for Australian agriculture to extend its position as a world leader”.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the missions would help make Australian farmers and communities more resilient to droughts, increase the value of Australian food exports and help to secure the future of our regional communities.
Littleproud last month shared on social media a letter he wrote to the CSIRO suggesting it had been advocating for plant-based protein above “genuine” meat.
The CSIRO last year identified a portfolio of initial missions in development to solve Australia’s greatest challenges through innovative science and technology, and it will launch future missions over the next 12 months.
It estimates the country $1.4 billion is spent by Australia each year on agricultural research and development.
“The CSIRO’s missions program is about using innovative science and technology to reach beyond what is possible today to solve Australia’s greatest challenges, and this is certainly the aim of these three missions,” Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said.
