Feed the world

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has identified that the countries of the world import $1.24 trillion worth of food to feed their people every year, made possible by net food exporting countries like Australia.

Aviation plays a critical role in helping our farmers to be world leaders in productivity and in attaining the highest yields possible in an environmentally sustainable system. Aircraft not only can go where ground based equipment can’t, such as boggy and hilly ground, but also allow farmers to take advantage of the rapid response and short time aircraft need to cover thousands of hectares.

The ability to target a plant’s needs here and now, for example with nitrogen uptake at different stages of a crop rather than trying to predict that at sowing time, means less waste for the farmer and higher yields. Rapid response to pests and disease can mean the difference between an economically viable yield and a loss — and the best rapid response to an agricultural threat is from an aircraft.

As the sophistication of farmers increases through low-or no till methods, integrated pest management, catchment repair, better irrigation strategies and precision agriculture, aerial application has kept pace.

Larger turbine aircraft, sub-meter accuracy of GPS swath guidance systems, GIS mapping of hazards and specialised application equipment that keeps products in the paddock have been matched by aerial applicators with better management and planning systems, improved industry-driven training and aviation entrepreneurs who know they are managing businesses, not just aircraft.

The advantages of using aircraft as an integrated farming tool include the professionalism and skill of the men and women entrusted to apply crop protection products responsibly and accurately. Far better to rely on a relatively small number of highly productive, highly trained and accountable pilots than the thousands of ground rigs needed to do the agricultural task aircraft achieve safely every day.

In Australia, food security is taken for granted. Farmers have become so good at their jobs they can continually improve yields because of their commitment to innovation and their willingness to adapt rather than stagnate.

In many other countries not only are farmers appreciated but their central role in sustaining national growth also is respected and celebrated. Most importantly, governments support them with policies that recognise the seasonal variation inherent in agriculture and the often high capital costs involved.

Unfortunately, once you are taken for granted and politicians assume you will always be there regardless of policy settings or over-regulation, an industry’s ability to get a fair hearing let alone supportive outcomes is compromised.

This seems to be the case with aviation and agricultural policy in Australia. The recent Budget ignored aviation and the carbon tax will add costs to food production while achieving nothing for the environment.

To state, as the Treasurer did, that only big polluters will pay, is treating the Australian community as mugs. Once food production is affected, as it certainly will be, every Australian will bear the cost of an ill-conceived, poorly executed carbon tax.

To stubbornly raise a carbon tax on firefighting aircraft through the aviation fuel levy is symptomatic of bad government.

The UN Food and Agricultural Organization argues that ‘the required increase in food production can be achieved if the necessary investment is undertaken and policies conducive to agricultural production are put in place’.

The size of food mountains required bring home how important agriculture will become as food security becomes more of an issue for more people — cereal production will have to rise by over a billion tonnes, from just over 2.1 billion tonne, and meat production will have to increase by over 200 million tonnes to reach 470 million tonnes.

None of this considers the likely competition for arable land for biofuel — something that has already had a significant skewing effect in the US. where corn for fuel has displaced many food crops in recent years.

The point with all of these statistics, such as the predictions on aviation passenger growth and the world’s needs for pilots, LAMEs and support staff. is that Australia should be perfectly placed to take advantage of global trends through strong policy support of agriculture and aviation.

There are lots of great long-term careers in aviation but aerial application has a wonderful mix of challenging flying, sound rewards and a real camaraderie — you actually enjoy your job.

Significant issues faced by ag pilots such as safety and seasonal variation can’t be ignored, but the long-term future of the industry will be underwritten by the need to feed and clothe the world.

If you are young and interested in starting a rewarding career in aviation, consider the statistics above and think about being part of the agricultural solution to feed the world.