Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly, has addressed the World Congress of Conservation Agriculture in Brisbane (September 26 and 29), where around 500 scientists and practitioners gathered to discuss international developments in sustainable agriculture and farming systems.

Discussions focussed on food security concerns, increasing food demand and climate change as they relate to conservation agriculture principles in both large-scale, high-tech commercial farms, and small-scale low-cost smallholder farms from developing regions in the world.

The congress, held in Australia for the first time, featured presentations by researchers, industry experts, policy makers and farmers on conservation agriculture practices that will improve profitability and food security for the industry.

"Australian farmers are working in one of the harshest, most unpredictable and varied environments on earth," Dr Kelly said.

"They have always had to manage their production systems within the constraints of the environment to be productive, more so than anywhere else in the world.

"It is now with greater understanding of the systems; and the threat of a changing climate that farmers are tweaking the practices they adopt to benefit both sustainable resource management and production.

"Preparing our environment for the future is vital and farmers play an important role in this.

"I am pleased that the conference has received support through the government's Caring for our Country initiative, which is investing in projects that improve biodiversity and assist farmers to implement sustainable farm practices.

"In order to achieve sustainable outcomes, the Australian Government recognises the importance that research, development and extension plays in setting up our natural and farming environments for the long term."

"The World Congress on Conservation Agriculture will make an important contribution to developing and sharing ideas for a more sustainable future and a sustainable and productive agricultural industry."