Australian agriculture in a geopolitical maelstrom

Geopolitics shape the world we live and work in

Right now, the geopolitical landscape is changing with a speed and depth we have not experienced in our lifetimes.

Geopolitical mega-trends, namely, structural shifts in the international system, rising domestic political unrest, technological transformation, and climate change, are all in unprecedented motion, and are all being accelerated by COVID-19.

In Australia, the agriculture industry is particularly impacted by geopolitics. It is inextricably interconnected with the global market.

This analysis will explore how these geopolitical mega-trends could affect the Australian agricultural industry, generating both opportunities and risks

Australian Agriculture in a Geopolitical Maelstrom

The key geopolitical trends driving challenges and opportunities for Australian agriculture

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Four key geopolitical themes affecting Australian agriculture

Shifts in the international system
A rise in domestic political unrest
Technological transformation
Climate change

Key insights

The strong international focus of Australian agriculture both drives growth opportunities, and exposes the sector to significant geopolitical risk.

Four geopolitical mega-trends are particularly affecting the agriculture industry: structural shifts in the international system; rising domestic political unrest; technological transformation; and climate change.

Critical components of success in agricultural trade are affected by geopolitics and these trends – including input control/availability, tariff and non-tariff barriers, consumer demand and preferences, and land productivity.

The Australian agriculture sector in focus

Agriculture is an important contributor to the Australian economy, worth $68 billion at farmgate in 2018-19 across crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry, and employing 330,000 individuals in these industries. 19 million hectares of Australia’s landmass is dedicated to agricultural production, driving the nation’s reputation as a dependable producer of high-quality foods.

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