The emerging complementary and competitive tension between agriculture and energy

With human population projected to increase to above 9 billion by the year 2050, agriculture faces significant challenges in providing substantially more food and fibre, from an already highly utilised and degrading resource base, while also contributing to production of bioenergy feedstocks to provide substitutes to fossil fuels. There are widespread concerns whether these twin goals are achievable. In Australia, strategic government programs exist or are under development to help the nation’s producers adjust to changing market and environmental imperatives. Market-based mechanisms have more potential to create favourable outcomes than alternate ways of influencing producers who can respond effectively