A landmark report by the National Farmers' Federation and KPMG has underscored the need for better engagement to unlock the economic potential of First Nations agriculture.
The Realising the Opportunity report, released at a NFF forum in Darwin, recognised the sustainable ways First Nations people had farmed for thousands of years and should progress Australia's thinking about the important role of Indigenous agriculture and the significant economic opportunity it represented for the industry.
NFF Indigenous Engagement Working Group chair Natalie Sommerville - a South Australian farmer and descendent of the Wagadagam people - said there was an obvious need to strengthen the economic and cultural empowerment of Indigenous Australians through accessible and collaborative pathways in agriculture.
"For millennia Indigenous Australians have sustainably managed and shaped landscapes for a range of purposes, including the production of food," she said.
The practices, products, skills and knowledge of First Nations people formed a rich tradition of significant ongoing cultural importance and future economic potential.
"Amplifying these valuable contributions from Indigenous individuals and organisations and collaborating is an enormous opportunity for both Indigenous peoples and our agricultural sector today," Ms Sommerville said.
"The first step is to listen and learn from previous engagement."
NFF acting president David Jochinke said First Nations people could help agriculture become Australia's next $100 billion industry.
"There is a very real and direct connection between reaching growth ambitions, the economic empowerment of Indigenous peoples, and Closing the Gap across the full range of social outcomes," he said.
"To unlock that potential, we need to do better at attracting Indigenous Australians to the industry, and supporting and promoting Indigenous agribusinesses."
The cuisines and native ingredients of First Nations culture and history have gained traction in recent years and spurned investment in Indigenous-incorporated food businesses across the country.
Agribusiness sector lead at KPMG, Georgie Aley, said a wide range of First Nations and non-Indigenous stakeholders in the agricultural business from across the country were consulted for the report, whose main recommendation was capturing reliable data from Indigenous farmers.
"Access to current and reliable information on the scale and contribution of Indigenous Australians in agriculture has been a challenge, which is a fundamental hurdle we have to collectively overcome," she said.
"We heard consistently that we need to better bridge traditional and contemporary agriculture and strengthen Indigenous engagement in agriculture, and we've made practical recommendations to help the industry down that path."
Other recommendations from the report include:
- Building cultural awareness across the industry to attract and retain an Indigenous workforce;
- Wider adoption of Reconciliation Action Plans;
- Endorsement of joint ventures that balance Caring for Country and commercial agriculture;
- Unlocking culturally-appropriate access to capital for Indigenous businesses; and
- Better promotion of Indigenous agribusiness and agricultural products.
The NFF will consider the recommendations as it progresses its Indigenous policy work, armed with practical advice on a meaningful path forward.
"We're committed to deepening our engagement and helping amplify the contribution of Indigenous Australians as a central part of the industry's growth," Mr Jochinke said.
