Farming in rural amenity landscapes: Maintaining food productivity in a changing environment

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Abstract

Inland rural amenity landscapes in Australia are undergoing a transition, with traditional food and fibre production impacted by increasing rural populations and land use changes. These changes are creating a new culture of demand, driving different supply scenarios from shrinking farmland. Using a qualitative case study of a small, agriculturally diverse Shire in North East Victoria, this chapter explores local food production and security issues from the perspectives of farmers, local and state government officers, councillors and agribusiness representatives. Farmers were generally optimistic about their future due to increasing market access and local production advantages despite rising land values and succession uncertainty. A variety of options and opportunities exist to maintain and enhance agricultural production as a contributor to food security. Whilst local and state government representatives acknowledged the economic importance of agriculture, the results revealed a loss of political, social and economic connection with the farming community and its aspirations. If amenity landscapes are to continue producing food for local consumption and export, a reconnection and a more proactive governance approach is needed to re-engage with farming to create stable and thriving local businesses.

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APA

Roots, J., Millar, J., & Thwaites, R. (2013). Farming in rural amenity landscapes: Maintaining food productivity in a changing environment. In Food Security in Australia: Challenges and Prospects for the Future (pp. 325–337). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4484-8_22

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