The growing environmental, health and ethical concerns associated with chemical-intensive and genetically modified food and agriculture have enhanced the importance of sustainable agriculture, according to a Central Queensland University researcher.

Dr Ram Pillarisetti believes ecologically sustainable agriculture better integrates environmental health, economic profits and socio-economic equity.

“With sustainable agriculture, emphasis is placed on environmentally friendly production practices without the use of artificial chemicals, fertilisers, excessive antibiotics and pesticides,” Mr Pillarisetti said.

“Australia has a natural comparative advantage in the production of foods through sustainable and ethical agriculture technologies,” he explains.

However, data on a broad spectrum of indicators shows that Australia lags far behind other countries, especially European countries, when it comes to these technologies.

Mr Pillarisetti said it was in the long-term interest of the country to develop broad-based agri-environmental policies in partnership between the public, farming community, research institutions and other interested parties and to vigorously promote sustainable agriculture in the future.

Mr Pillarisetti presented a seminar about the benefits of sustainable agriculture last week at CQU’s Rockhampton campus.