Handling urbans a future farming skill

Emerging technologies will confront farmers with enormous change requiring "adaptive, flexible management", says the new head of a key state science company, Warren Parker.

A former AgResearch science manager on secondment to Queensland University's commercialisation company for molecular biology, Dr Parker is due in July to start work as chief executive of Landcare Research, the Government's leading science company in areas such as sustainable development and climate change.

He was a key speaker on Saturday at the Nuffield Trust's international conference in Rotorua, which is canvassing world agriculture in 2050.

"There will be frustrations with the loss or restriction of traditional property rights; achieving meaningful communication with the 'urban majority' increasingly distant from the realities of farming; the bureaucracy of compliance; and being a political minority," Dr Parker warned.

But he said new technology would enormously extend the products and services provided by farming and the means by which they were generated.

Dr Parker said the technological revolution in agriculture would be exciting, but moderated by the need to make progress in sustaining natural resources, particularly water.

There was also a need to develop energy sources other than fossil fuels, to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

At the same time, farmers would have to address the needs of the much larger non-farming population "such as access to attractive rural landscapes and potable water" and maintain national biosecurity while developing tourism and trade.

Significant change to the way farm systems were assembled and managed was also needed to achieve sustainable production.

Dr Parker, a keen advocate while at Ruakura for sophisticated use of biotechnology in agriculture, said genomic sciences and their convergence with information technologies would pervade a lot of future farm innovation.

"All aspects of the biology of farming - genetic selection and modification, weed and pest management, plant and animal nutrition, soil health and water quality - will be impacted by genomics," he said.

Concerns about genetic engineering would decline as products were marketed to benefit health rather than just agri-chemical companies and long-term trials verified food safety.

"Organic production will be overtaken by systems based on natural bio-control and protection products and bio-fuels."

Dr Parker suggested the public would acquire a "new appreciation" of the importance of farmers and farming to society and the economy.

"It is not simply about food and fibre production but the source - worth paying for - of much of what is fundamental to mankind's health, happiness and well-being."

- NZPA