On Wednesday 29 October 2025, Australia's Chief Scientist, Prof Tony Haymet delivered a speech to the CropLife Australia National Members' Forum in Canberra. 

 

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. And the opportunity to listen.

I very much appreciated the insightful remarks of the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Senator the Honourable Anthony Chisholm.

And I understand the Assistant Shadow Minister for that portfolio, Jamie Chaffey, will also speak this morning.

We are meeting on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people in Canberra, and I pay my respects to them and their elders.

More than paying respect, next Monday night the Prime Minister will award his first prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems. This will be the first time the Prime Minister’s given that prize. I think it’s a tangible expression of acknowledging the Aboriginal inhabitants of this great land.

It's a great pleasure to be with you and to deepen my connection to your organisation and the sector it represents.

I should say a nice thing about Matthew, he was spot on about misinformation and disinformation, I have to say before he gets back. We are planning to release a report that the National Science and Technology Council that I convene has been working on for a long time, hopefully to be signed off by the Minister for Science and the Prime Minister next Wednesday. Matthew just summarised it in about 2 minutes, so you don’t have to read it when it comes out, just remember what Matthew said!

I think the most surprising thing is we are all concerned about misinformation for our children but this report, and the research we did, reveals that it is a lot of older Australians that are susceptible to misinformation and disinformation.

And there are good people in Canberra right now thinking about our census in the middle of next year and how we are planning to respond in real time as the level of misinformation about the census data ramps up in the middle of next year.

But back to my talk ... Our crop protection and ag biotechnology products play a crucial part in a vital sector of the economy.

And your focus on science – plus R&D – puts you in a very important position.

Having started my scientific career in chemistry – before diving into oceanography – I am acutely aware of the transformative nature of your work.

In this speech I want to talk about your expertise and the vital contribution of the farming sector – today and into the future – as we navigate changing conditions requiring innovative solutions.

Your sector is no stranger to challenges – no stranger to innovation. And we must never forget that.

In fact, when we mention the sectors in which Australia demonstrates excellence – quantum computing, astronomy, medical devices – I firmly believe our agricultural innovation must be listed along with them.

In our past and our future, innovation in agriculture and plant science has been a secret sauce for Australia. It fuels productivity, powers the economy, feeds the world, and delivers products critical to our wellbeing.

Your work plays a significant part in that, and in strengthening Australia’s bio-security system that protects our environment, our people and our economy.

And your wider economic impact is extraordinary.

Agriculture accounted for more than 10 percent of Australian goods and services exported in 2023-24.  

And only last month, ABARES said the gross value of agricultural production will rise to almost $95 billion in 2025-26.  

Your products, your work, your science – they all contribute to those lofty numbers.

And in collaboration with you, so too do Australia’s RDCs and CRCs. Their development of innovative technologies and farming methods helps keep Australia competitive in world markets.

But your contribution is more than just productivity and economics.

You promote sustainable practices through stewardship programs like the Ag Safe scheme and its Drum-MUSTER and Chem-Clear initiatives.

I also recognise your commitment to Integrated Pest Management and Resistance Management Strategies.

We live in a period when innovation in agriculture is, and should be, flourishing – driven by science, research and development. And it deserves to be spotlighted!

For example, take the Hydro Harvester, a Newcastle University initiative converting atmospheric moisture into drinkable water.

And it’s not just rain we are looking for in the skies above.

High-res photos captured by drones are being analysed with artificial intelligence to provide a wealth of information about the condition of pasture, crops and weeds.

Before I took this job, when I was developing my ocean robot company, we learnt a lot from airborne robots.

AI is also improving livestock and crop management through early detection of illness, disease, pests or spoilage.

I am also impressed by the work of the Grains RDC and BioScout, who are using AI to track airborne disease spores. By identifying them before disease is evident in crops, it enables early and more targeted spraying.

AI is helping to forecast locust plagues and teaming with robotics to streamline sowing, watering, spraying and harvesting.

Add to that … advances in genetics, greater crop resilience, and ever-more sophisticated ag bio-technology products.

Why do I mention these examples?

Why do I put the spotlight on technology and clever Australians addressing ag sector challenges?

Well, a generation ago, many would have regarded these solutions as the stuff of science fiction. But now it’s just technology that responds to a problem and makes farming more efficient.

I mention these examples because they remind us that Australian farming and ag science industries are good at rising to a challenge.

They’re good at embracing solutions.

They’re good at innovation.

And that must continue – because the challenges are about to get a lot bigger.

You don’t need to be a climate scientist, or even a scientist for that matter, to understand the news headlines reporting rising temperatures and extreme weather.

Australia’s changing climate is likely to mean more frequent, longer lasting and more intense droughts in many regions.

These droughts, along with other climate-related pressures, can have far-reaching consequences, not just for farmers, but entire communities.

The impacts are financial, environmental, social – and they affect health and wellbeing on-farm and beyond.

As you know better than most, strengthening drought resilience within the ag sector is essential. Your work and your products help farmers to better manage extended dry periods and to recover more quickly when conditions improve.

Over the past two-to-three decades, climate change – particularly drought – has negatively affected ag productivity and profitability.  

But despite these challenges, the sector has shown its capacity to adapt. And you’ve been a key part of that.

That adaptation must continue at pace because Australia is now facing a climate crisis. Agriculture is both affected by this emergency and is contributing to it. So, agriculture is therefore essential to its solution.

That means you, and the people you work with, have a very important role at a pivotal moment in our history.

The Australian Government has committed to reducing emissions by 62-70 percent below 2005 levels by 2035, supported by its Net Zero Plan.

I’m a member of the Climate Change Authority that provided independent advice about those emission levels. And I’m delighted to acknowledge that the Chair of that committee has done a fantastic job of bringing a diverse range of opinions into a final recommendation to the government. Congratulations to Matt Kean.

When the government announced those targets last month, it also released the Agriculture and Land Sector Plan.

The plan aims to keep Australian producers at the forefront of low-emissions food and fibre production.

But it does not impose specific emission targets for agriculture or land use. Instead, it provides a framework that enables producers and land managers to contribute meaningfully to the broader economy-wide transition. 

It’s a plan guided by three core goals: 
 
•    Maintaining leadership in low-emissions production.
•    Delivering tangible benefits to regional communities.
•    And balancing agricultural output with carbon storage and environmental restoration.

The good news? Australian farmers are already adapting and have been embedding sustainability into their work for years. You know that better than most.

As you proudly highlight, practices such as no-till farming are supported by herbicide use and GM crops like so-called RoundUp-ready canola (which is glyphosate-resistant).  

That no-till approach helps to preserve soil structure, reduce erosion, and support carbon sequestration.

In fact, in 2022 agriculture and land use together removed more carbon than they emitted – absorbing 88 million tonnes of carbon dioxide while emitting 85 million tonnes.

However, emissions from agriculture remain substantial, and must be tackled.

Livestock are the largest source of ag emissions, contributing 64 percent through methane from enteric fermentation. 

Fertiliser and soils account for 16 percent via nitrous oxide – and manure management adds 8 percent.

Technologies – like anaerobic digesters, composting and feed additives – have the potential to reduce emissions. But cost and suitability can limit their widespread adoption.

Nature-based solutions – like reforestation and protecting native vegetation – are vital for storing biological carbon and enhancing biodiversity.

Biofuels can also play a critical part on the road to net zero.

I have a long-time interest in this area, having once worked on setting up an Australian subsidiary for an overseas algae-based biofuel project. And sometime in our lifetimes Europe is going to insist that if we fly to Europe, we use sustainable biofuel. Australia will be one of the world leaders.

Scaling up bio-energy use will support the decarbonisation of sectors that are hard to electrify – such as aviation, heavy transport, maritime, mining, and some industrial processes.

Developing a domestic bio-energy industry will also unlock economic and industrial opportunities. Agricultural and forestry-based bio-genetic feedstocks will be central to building this industry in Australia.

In fact, we are well-positioned to lead in bio-energy production, thanks to our vast land area, our diverse bio-mass resources, and the agility of the ag sector in adopting new technologies and practices.

To support this, the Australian Government is preparing a National Bio-energy Feedstock Strategy.

Public consultation about that proposed strategy began this month with the release of a discussion paper. Stakeholders are invited to contribute their views regarding this strategy that’s expected to be delivered mid next year.

Climate change demands that we identify new opportunities – like bio-fuels – and that we act decisively to embrace new approaches.

All parts of the community and all industries – including the ag sector – must act with unwavering resolve to help meet Australia’s emission targets.

Half-measures will only delay the reckoning and hike up future costs.

Yes, responding to climate change is an enormous challenge. But we’ve got the chops for this. Australia has great scientists and talented ag sector professionals. And we’re a wealthy country with the resources to address these challenges.

If we delay the emission reductions, our grandchildren and their kids will face worsening fires, floods and droughts. And heaven help them if they try to get insurance for their homes.
 
There will be billions in economic losses, reduced productivity, escalating healthcare costs, and lives shattered by floods, fires and heat. 

So yes, there are costs associated with our climate change actions – but they are far lower than the cost of inaction.

Despite the challenges we face, I believe that Australia’s outlook remains promising. 

We have a growing bio-economy. 

There’s strong public backing for scientific research. 

And Australia has consistently demonstrated its ability to adopt and scale innovative technologies. We’re seeing advances in the development of drought-tolerant crops and plants that make better use of available nutrients.

And we’re seeing greater adoption of precision technologies using data, analytics, robotics and automation to enhance farming practices.

So, even though the future holds problems that are daunting, we must never underestimate our capacity – and Australia’s track record – when it comes to scientific and farm sector innovation.

As I said at the beginning, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with you.

I am equally grateful for the important work you do across Australia.

A lot of it is done behind the scenes and won’t be immediately visible to many people. That is often the case with science and especially true for agricultural innovation.

But your collective efforts – be they visible or invisible – are critical to our nation and its future, especially during this period when the climate is in flux.

In so many ways, crop science has never played such a transformative role in Australia’s farming. It is boosting productivity – that feeds a hungry world – and supporting sustainability that helps to protect a fragile planet.

Cometh the hour, cometh the industry. Your expertise and your innovative attitude are more critical than ever before, and I wish you well with all your discussions at this important forum.

Thank you.                                              
 

Image credit: CropLife