If Australia doesn't make the most of its agricultural potential it could be faced with an influx of 'food refugees', says David Farley, chief executive of Australian Agricultural Company.
In a speech titled Why Australia must be responsible with agriculture, Farley covered a number of issues including urging the government to renegotiate indigenous land titles and pastoral leases, establish an emergency food bank and encourage research, development and innovation in the agriculture industry.
According to AFR, Farley said if these issues aren't addressed Australia will be at risk of taking on "food refugees".
"If we can't participate in Asia and with feeding Asia, all that demand for food will come down here," he said.
Farley said global demand for food is set to surge 77 percent by 2049, and a failure to adjust our agricultural industry in order to cope with increase demand will see Australia face food shortages and pressure from foreign interests keen on cultivating our soils for food production, with Asia already of the perception that Australia is not making the most of its natural resources.
Farley's comments come in the wake of fellow agriculture boss, David Lock's attempts to water down talk that Australia could become the food bowl of Asia.
The chief executive of Craig Mostyn Group said that while Australia could increase the number of products sold into Asia, he expects we will remain a small producer of top quality produce.
"I don't share the optimism of those who say Australia will be the food bowl of Asia," he said.
"I think Australia is a small producer of food and it will be a producer of niche products that are typically expensive and high quality."