Australian Farm Institute | LinkedIn (original) (raw)

Public Policy Offices

Eveleigh, NSW 3,698 followers

An independent institute leading farm policy discussions for Australian agriculture.

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About us

The Australian Farm Institute was established in 2004 to conduct research into public policy issues impacting on the Australian farm sector, and to promote policy solutions that maximise the economic and social wellbeing of farmers. To do this, the Institute undertakes research on specific farm policy issues, promoting the outcomes of this research to policy-makers. AFI is the only stand-alone Institute of this nature established to focus solely on agricultural policy issues. The Institute has a commitment to ensuring research findings are the conclusion of high quality, rigorous and objective analysis. The Institute’s research is overseen by a Research Advisory Committee consisting of experienced senior researchers and academics. The Committee identifies strategic issues, and oversee the quality of research contracted out by the Institute to ensure it is of the highest calibre and is conducted objectively. Broadly, the Institute’s research program is structured around three key themes: * Agricultural businesses – focusing on issues that impact on the ability of farmers to operate profitable businesses * Agricultural resources – focusing on natural resource management issues that impact on farmers * Agricultural communities – focusing on social issues impacting on farmers and their regional communities. Research promotion is important to the Institute as it assists in the development of sound and innovative policy solutions, in addition to enlightening the wider community. A variety of publications are produced, including a quarterly journal, as well as seminars and events that provide opportunities for Institute researchers and policy-makers to exchange ideas. Individuals and corporations are encouraged to support, contribute to, and become involved with, the work of the Institute.

Industry

Public Policy Offices

Company size

2-10 employees

Headquarters

Eveleigh, NSW

Type

Nonprofit

Founded

2004

Specialties

Research, Policy, and Agriculture

Locations

Employees at Australian Farm Institute

Updates

The AFI leads the farm policy discussions to promote evidence-based policy solutions that maximise the economic and social wellbeing of our farmers. And we couldn't do this without the input and support of the team behind & beyond the team. To our Board, Research Advisory Committee, Research Fellows Network, corporate supporters, individual members and subscribers - and to that big ecosystem of people who care about what happen in agriculture - take a bow. (And keep it up!)
A belated gratitude post to the incredible team at the Australian Farm Institute for a packed & productive few days for our Roundtable: "Walking the Talk: Putting policy into action". What a week! 🙌 The Roundtable was a reflection of the many dichotomies of #AusAg: we talked about how to move past talking, to mobilise much-needed action on some wicked policy issues. We want things to be different but want to preserve the status quo. We can see positive forecasts for national GVP, but individually feel more pressured than ever. And we can see this playing out in advocacy & regulation. Huge thanks to David 'DJ' Jochinke (Pres. National Farmers' Federation) for tackling some hairy questions on advocacy over breakfast, and to Adam Fennessy PSM (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Secretary) for setting the scene with DAFF's strategic view. The 'Thinking global, acting local' panel reinforced Australia's opportunities to lead ag policy beyond our borders, & highlighted challenges in some areas where we think we are doing better than we are (data collection & consistency anyone??) - well done Kristina Hermanson, Su McCluskey, Fiona Simson & Richard Vecqueray. It was a genuine privilege to have AFI's founding Chair John Ralph join current Chair Alexandra Gartmann to 'Look back, look forward' with authors featured in the new Farm Policy Journal. Excellent insights on productivity, branding, the future of animal ag & changing social expectations from Edward Perrett, Nikki Dumbrell, Robyn Alders & David Thompson (get your copy here! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gKwMVr46) Barely pausing for breath, the Great Debate featured AFI team captains Kade Denton & Justin Maroccia ably supported by the inimitable Jennifer Medway GAICD & Catherine Marriott OAM, moderated by the acerbically witty Caroline Rhodes. This dream team challenged us all to consider whether we talk too much or not enough about ag policy issues, and how to flip our own entrenched biases - an excellent way to pump energy into the room ahead of intensive 'masterclass' sessions on a range of topics. Unsurprising that even with 3 groups on the topic, "is ag advocacy broken?" was oversubscribed! (PS: notes on these sessions will be circulated back to attendees once we've caught up 😮💨) Bringing it home, Annabel Johnson (CEO NSW Farmers) joined Matt Linnegar, FARLF, me & Alex for some refreshingly pithy observations on collaboration (lack thereof...?) in the wrap-up. And finally, we saw the gap between trust & trustworthiness writ large when DJ & Matt joined Cathy McGowan in a world-first (& hilarious) #AusAg edition of 'Would I Lie to You' over drinks in the NGA forecourt. To Team AFI - Kade, Justin, Kylie Smith, Sally Beech & Bozena Klich - and to our Board, Research Advisors & Fellows & wider supporters, a heartfelt thanks for putting ag policy at the ❤️ of all you do.
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Thanks Skills Insight & Australian Rural Leadership Foundation not only for your support to hold the events but also for your input and engagement. It takes a village in more ways than one, and AFI is working hard to extend our knowledge networks in pursuit of good policy for Australia's farming communities - here's to more cooperation AND collaboration!
Skills Insight's Andrew Cameron, Executive Officer Industry Stewardship and Insights, was at the National Gallery in Canberra last week for the Australian Farm Institute (AFI) Roundtable event "Walking the talk: Putting policy into action". Adam Fennessy PSM, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, gave the keynote address shining a light on some of the key policy issues facing the sector in the coming decades. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to network with leaders across the agriculture industry and look at how policy can best be actioned. The following day many of the participants proceeded to Parliament House for a workshop run by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation where Andrew was able to present an example prototype for lifting capacity based on the information shared during policy into action discussions. Skills Insight are grateful to AFI Executive Director Katie McRobert (MBA, GAICD) and Australian Rural Leadership Foundation CEO Matt Linnegar, FARLF (pictured below with Andrew Cameron) who convened the Canberra events bringing together Ag sector policy leaders over the course of 2 days. We look forward to working closely with them and the diverse groups who participated throughout the events.#AustralianFarmInstitute #AustralianRuralLeadershipFoundation #Agriculture
Thanks to Robert Pekin for a great wrap of our recent Roundtable on 'Walking the Talk' - couldn't have said it better ourselves 😉 Were you there? What were your thoughts / 'aha' moments / frustrations / insights?

Food and Agricultural systems solutions designer specializing in values based resilient supply chains and Investment solutions for Regional infrastructure
2w Edited
I've not stopped chewing the cud over the fabulous Australian Farm Institute Roundtable in Canberra last week This was my first time at an AFI gig representing Food Connect Foundation. Most of my work has been at the 'hyper local' deep food system transformation focused on alternative forms of direct distribution systems. As a former dairy farmer that fell to deregulation, demutualisation and corporatisation of the industry, I've had not much truck with mainstream policy and advocacy organisations until recently. The focus of the conference was 'Walking the Talk' and Katie McRobert (MBA, GAICD) wasted no time in framing the day, without holding back on the multiple crises facing agriculture. Katie's presentation was one of the best attempts I've heard to distill the complexity of the meta, macro & local challenges in a way that resonated. Me: "OK, this lot are not going to pull any punches today." This challenging theme was taken up in no uncertain terms by the next speakers Darryl Lyons and Suzanne Thompson, First Nations land use practitioners reinforcing the need for the sector to see Indigenous wisdom as critical in changing the paradigm of how we work together and more importantly how we include others. Me: "Absolutely!!" With few exceptions, speaker after speaker addressed the seriousness of the topic at hand. Encouragingly there was a mature & healthy attitude in opening up uncomfortable truths. 'Burning Platforms' was mentioned more than once as key to moving the dial. 💪Su McCluskey made a direct plea to do more than just collaborate. Matt Linnegar, FARLF acknowledged the sector did 'bugger all' collaborating and much more needs to be done on 'Collective Action' if we are to save time later on dealing with the impacts of these multiple crises. I can't remember if it was Alexandra Gartmann or Katie asking the question, 'if it is a Wicked Problem' what are we going to do differently? Who will we draw into the conversation? How do we risk manage the situation?Robyn Alders reinforcing the importance of making the link between health and agriculture, using systems thinking and who wasn't in the room that they could learn from.Nikki Dumbrell opening up the thorny conundrum of having a social license? The Great Debate fabulously moderated by Caroline Rhodes. Jennifer Medway GAICD's take: 'Meet The Fockers' (you had to be there, it was very funny and spot on. Catherine Marriott OAM's passion unbridled around needing to do way more walking, listening and inclusion on boards and committees. Me: "Yes!!!!" The event closed with a very funny take off of 'Would I Lie To You' involving Cathy McGowan with a lie we all wanted to be true. Overall there was a critical change of narrative that has become much more noticeable amongst the more mainstream agricultural organisations. Thanks for the leadership and design of a fabulous day team AFI.#foodsystemstransformation Food Connect Foundation & Food Connect Shed
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Senior Consultant at Currie Communications & proprietor at Sale Coworking Hub
3w Edited
I’m leaving Canberra this morning with my glass very much half-full on the future for agriculture in Australia. I spent yesterday at Australian Farm Institute's annual roundtable, Walking the talk: putting policy into action. It was a welcome chance to catch up with ag friends old and new. Along the way, I heard what we all know – agriculture has its fair share of challenges. But at the same time, despite our propensity to cut down the tall poppies, we’re not afraid to spruik the things our sectors do well. There was so much interest in discussing the way we structure ag advocacy in Australia that there were three tables dedicated to workshopping the topic. On my table we talked about how we must strive to increase diversity in those who lead ag advocacy. Gender and cultural diversity are perhaps the most obvious places to start (ag advocacy gatherings were described as “white bread conferences”). But our quest for improved diversity must also extend to people from all levels of employment, and not least to consumers and those outside the industry. I’ve since reflected that having the time and financial freedom to dedicate to participating in the advocacy system is a privilege not available to all in the industry. Lowering the barriers to participating (and making participation appealing) will help ensure we hear from a more representative cross-section of participants in the industry. More broadly, collaborating and communicating were big focus points across the day, as was the need for strong data to provide the proof points in our conversations. An energising debate around “talking about the problem is overrated” reminded us that even though the conversations can be long (perhaps even spanning decades), the cost of getting it wrong is too great to give up. As Alexandra Gartmann said – some of the problems aren’t going away and we need to make sure we decrease the industry’s exposure to risk and continually “shift the dial” through our conversations. As Matt Linnegar, FARLF pointed out in his reflection, “collaboration rolls off the tongue very well for agriculture, but we do it bugger all of the time” when dealing with issues. A few other points that stick with me: 🧠 Catherine Marriott OAM – we’ve got a core group of “token people” who the industry often draws on, leaving us with the same opinions and outcomes. Catherine challenged the room to call in two lesser-known people for each group to broaden the industry’s skills base and bring in new thought. 🧠 We need to get comfortable having the uncomfortable conversations. There’s plenty ahead, not least given we’ve exceeded our planet’s resources in many respects. Thanks once again Katie McRobert (MBA, GAICD), Alexandra Gartmann and the AFI team for a thought-provoking day, complete with a Vanilla Ice cameo (you had to be there)!
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Non-Executive Director | Sector Builder - agriculture, water, biotech
3w
I spent the day at the Australian Farm Institute Roundtable on Walking the Talk: Putting policy into action. Here are some of my favourite provocations: ❓What is policy? In agriculture, we often default to focus on government policy, but corporate policies (procurement!) impact the sector too. Are we spending our energy in the right place? ❓Policy needs to be good for Australia, which isn’t the same as being good for all Australians. How does agriculture have nuanced conversations about policy that move beyond WIIFM? ❓Policy is never “done” but how much talking about the problem is too much? Are we too afraid to fail and so fail to act? Are we so saturated with information that we can’t process it quickly enough to act? Are we looking for consensus before we act? Good luck with that. ❓Are farmers at the right tables? Plenty of policies influence agriculture - climate reporting, data privacy and cyber, dietary guidelines, nature positive - are farmers in the room? ❓Agriculture is good at talking to itself. Good policy requires communicating effectively outside the sector. To take it even further, if everyone agrees with you, you're in the wrong room. Who makes you uncomfortable? Go there. ❓What's the balance between following industry and leading industry? Are agriculture’s leaders doing enough to support farmers to leverage opportunities from the rapidly changing policy landscape? Thank you Katie McRobert (MBA, GAICD) and the AFI team for a great day. 📷 Katie McRobert opens the Roundtable with the perfect framing for the day
Australian Farm Institute reposted this

Generating Audience Response Through Compelling Video Production
3w
Masterclasses are in session at Australian Farm Institute’s Agriculture Round Table. Nine great topics - from “Do we have ag advocacy right?” (a hot topic right now!) to “The role of trade in enabling sustainability outcomes for Aust ag.”
Australian Farm Institute reposted this
It’s clear here at Australian Farm Institute’s Ag Roundtable the significance of Aust Ag Sustainability Framework in underpinning and informing ag policy in this country. Even in development it’s already causing global markets to see Aust ag differently - in a good way.
Australian Farm Institute reposted this

Food and Agricultural systems solutions designer specializing in values based resilient supply chains and Investment solutions for Regional infrastructure
4w Edited
Great to be representing Food Connect Foundation at the Australian Farm Institute Walking The Talk Roundtable in Canberra today A fantastic opening presentation by Katie McRobert (MBA, GAICD) to set the scene not shying away from the presenting the biggest issues in Ag, Food & Fibre 🙌 I’m hoping that this forum can introduce a more transformative approach to setting the policy agenda

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Australian Farm Institute | LinkedIn (original) (raw)

Public Policy Offices

Eveleigh, NSW 3,698 followers

An independent institute leading farm policy discussions for Australian agriculture.

About us

Locations

Employees at Australian Farm Institute

Updates

Join now to see what you are missing

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