ForumforAg Food Systems Podcast Summary

In this edition of the Food Systems Podcast, recorded at the Forum’s Annual Conference 2025, Alex Turk talks to Katie McRobert, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute.

Here is a summary of the conversation.

How did NASA astronaut Mike Massimino’s message of collaboration and his maxim to “use good thoughts first” resonate with you?

It resonated a lot. In Australia, we’ve found it difficult to get a consensus on what sustainability even means. We export 73% of our agricultural value, so what others think and do is crucial. We have many commodity-specific sustainability frameworks, but they all use different language and focus on different outcomes. We’re working on an overarching framework for all of Australian agriculture, run by our National Farmers’ Federation and funded by the Department of Agriculture, which has been a challenging but good process. Mike’s  message of focusing on the mission and what draws us together is exactly what we need to move forward.

Your panel is about implementing the green transition – big mission, big issues, complexity of views. What was your key message to the Forum about the imperatives for green transition?

My message was that we need to find a way to articulate our shared values. Australian farmers operate in a very different policy environment, with no public support or subsidies, it’s purely market-driven. So looking for those things that unite us rather than focusing on the differences is extremely important. If we can articulate our shared values, we can then design implementation strategies suitable for different jurisdictions while all working towards the same goal of sustainable agriculture.

With the rise of protectionist sentiments, how important is agricultural trade for Australia? It’s a concern, but is there a very uniting thought process when considering what to do?

It is, and that’s the flip side of all of this uncertainty and this fluidity. Trade can be a great enabler for sustainable practices, but it can also be a barrier. Mechanisms like the EU’s carbon border adjustment can act as non-tariff barriers, setting up farmers to fail if they don’t understand different contexts. Good trade policy can enable sustainable outcomes. We should look for opportunities in disruption because change doesn’t necessarily mean things will get worse, it just means they will change.

As well as all of this, you’ve talked about unique environments and cultures. It’s such an important point. But does it also add a layer of complexity to this debate?

Yes, absolutely. The cultural expectations even within different parts of Australia can be a challenge. The way livestock is produced in northern Australia is very different from a southern grazing system, for example. Trying to translate these differences to a European context, where you have different scales and types of farming, is hard. However, it’s still possible to find unity in purpose through shared values, even if we do things differently.

And so how important is it to come and share a platform with other experts and listen? What struck a chord with you?

It’s a vital opportunity. Australian farmers need to be aware of what’s happening globally because it directly impacts them as a trade-exposed industry. I value listening to other perspectives because a diversity of ideas makes us all richer. I was heartened to hear that our European colleagues are shifting from prescribed practices to a more outcomes-focused approach, which is more inclusive of different cultures and environments. It’s also good to share some of Australia’s experiences.

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