Opportunities in Aussie agri sector

A paper presentation at a conference on the outlook for Agribusiness stated that digital technologies and insurance innovation could aid risk management in Australian agriculture. “Australia is one of the riskiest agricultural countries in the world in terms of agricultural production,” said Jay Horton, an agribusiness consultant with Strategis Partners.

For all businesses across the agri-supply chain – financiers, input suppliers and processors – risk management itself is a growing business opportunity.

He suggested that supply chain partners to the farm enterprise become involved.

He said banks could waive interest on a loan, and farmland owners leasing land to young farmers could reduce rent for a year. That would be backed up with an insurance policy and risk management, he said.

Horton said the emergence of big data, from weather stations, markets and on-farm operations, about prices, soil fertility and moisture, would help to provide objective information.