National Committee for Agriculture and Food

The National Committee for Agriculture and Food (NCAF) has four broad aims, which are to:

• foster the key scientific disciplines that underpin productive and sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food industries in Australia
• link the Academy to scientists in these disciplines
• interact with relevant scientific societies
• serve as a link between Australian and overseas agricultural scientists, primarily through the International Union for Biological Sciences.

Food security has become a major international concern, so the sciences underpinning the future development of agriculture, fisheries and food are increasingly important. Australia has traditionally been strong in the relevant disciplines, with research undertaken in universities, CSIRO, state government departments and private sector organisations. However, there has been no attempt to provide and apply a blueprint for fostering the relevant sciences nationally, to ensure continued innovation in farming systems.

In June 2017, NCAF launched its Decadal plan for Australian Agricultural Sciences (2017–2026). The committee will now focus on working with key stakeholders across the country to implement the report’s recommendations.

Governance

• Terms of reference (PDF, 242 KB)

Reports and activities

• Submission - Critical Technologies Policy Coordination Office stakeholder consultation, April 2021
• Submission—Inquiry into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030, October 2019
• Decadal plan for Australian Agricultural Sciences (2017–2026), published June 2017

Members

• Chair: Professor Peter Langridge FAA
  • The University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
  • Research expertise: Biological Science, agricultural and veterinary science
• Committee member: Professor Chris Blanchard
  • Charles Sturt University, Director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional Grains (Functional Grains Centre)
  • Research expertise: Molecular biology, food science
• Committee member: Professor Timothy Cavagnaro
  • Flinders University, Dean of Graduate Research
  • Research expertise: Soil ecology, plant-based systems to mitigate and adapt to environmental change, soil carbon sequestration
• Committee member: Associate Professor Caroline Hauxwell
  • Queensland University of Technology, School of Biology and Environmental Science
  • Research expertise: Microorganisms in food production
• Committee member: Professor Holger Meinke
  • University of Tasmania, Strategic Research Professor (Global Food Sustainability)
  • Research expertise: Agriculture and food systems, climate risk management, simulation modelling
• Committee member: Professor Geoff Grossel
  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Director, Biosecurity Research
  • Research expertise: Biosecurity and molecular medicine
• EMCR Representative: Dr. Dominique Van der Saag
  • The University of Sydney, Sydney School of Veterinary Science
  • Research expertise: Animal behaviour, animal welfare science, livestock production and welfare.
• Committee member: Professor Barbara Nowak FAA
  • University of Tasmania, Deputy Associate Dean Research College of Science and Engineering
  • Research expertise: Agricultural science, Ecotoxicology, Biology
• Committee member: Dr Dianne Mayberry
  • CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Senior Research Scientist
  • Research expertise: Livestock production systems, agri-food systems, sustainable livestock production, agricultural research for development
• Committee member: Dr Anneline Padayachee
  • The Food and Nutrition Doctor, Nutritional Food Science
  • Research expertise: Processing technology, nutrient and food composition, digestive processes