UNIT:1 Sectors of the AFI

Cards (37)

  • Agriculture
    Activity of cultivating the land to grow food and includes farming both plants and animals
  • Fisheries
    Production and cultivation of plants and animals in an aquatic environment
  • Commercial fishing is the largest component of the fisheries sector, with aquaculture gaining popularity
  • Aquaculture
    Controlled breeding of fish in an enclosed area, a growing industry involving cultivating and harvesting aquatic plants and animals
  • Australia's consumption of fish and seafood has led to increasing production of fish and other aquatic species
  • Fisheries or aquaculture is the commercial growing, farming and catching of fresh and saltwater fish and seafood, and the industry is worth about $3 billion to the Australian economy
  • More than 600 varieties of fresh and saltwater species are grown in Australia and they are consumed locally and exported to countries such as Japan
  • Wild-caught fish still account for the majority of the seafood produced in Australia, meaning the fish come from seas, rivers and other natural bodies of water
  • Farm-raised fish (aquaculture) are grown in tanks, irrigation ditches and ponds, and aquaculture production in Australia is a growing industry
  • A vast majority of food sold in Australia is grown and supplied by Australian farmers, with more than 90 per cent of the fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, milk and eggs sold in supermarkets being domestically produced
  • Cereals, dairy and meat are the most significant products produced in the agri-food chain sector
  • Challenges faced by Australian farmers
    • Harsh weather conditions such as drought and flood
    • Limited access to water
    • Overgrazing problems
    • High transport costs
    • Pests and diseases
    • Feral animals
    • Long distances between farms, to the manufacturers and to the marketplace
  • Agricultural practices have had to become more mechanised and dependent on new technologies and farming methods as the industry seeks to remain viable and become more sustainable into the future
  • Technological developments in the Australian food industry include irrigation systems, genetic engineering, breeding programs and sophisticated farming equipment
  • Approximately two-thirds of Australian land is used for agricultural purposes
  • Grazing, the feeding of cattle, continues to be the highest value sector in farm production
  • The highest value of production in order is cattle, wheat, dairy, vegetables and fruit and nuts, followed by lamb meat and wool
  • Most of Australia's agricultural businesses are involved in a 'two-legged' economy – combining the growing of wheat and sheep on the same property
  • Farm-gate value

    Describing the price of goods if they were purchased directly from a farm, without markup added by retailers
  • Dairy farming in Australia

    • $13 billion farming, manufacturing and export industry
    • Main markets being into Asia, specifically China
    • Farm-gate value of around $4 billion
    • Vital contributor to the Australian economy
    • Over 6000 dairy farmers producing around 9.7 billion litres of milk each year
    • Directly employs about 40,000 Australians who work on farms and in factories
    • Largest processed-food industry in Australia
    • Much of the processing or value adding to milk occurs close to farming areas, thereby generating economic activity in regional areas
    • Value-added products include milk products, butter, yoghurt, custard and cheese
    • A vast majority of Australian milk is exported as manufactured cheese, milk powder, evaporated milk, casein and whey powder to Asian markets
  • Australia is the world leader in exporting beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats to many countries around the world
  • In 2014 Australia exported approximately 3.68 million livestock with around $1.457 billion
  • In 2015-16 Australians consumed about 46.2 kg of chicken meat per person, making us one of the largest consumers of chicken meat in the world
  • Cropping
    Growing of plants for harvest and processing, producing a wide variety of grains such as wheat, oats and barley, and other crops such as corn and legumes
  • Smaller agricultural practices such as fruit and nut trees, grape growing, sugar cane and other crop businesses represent about half the number of the total grain, beef, cattle and sheep business
  • New producers are constantly developing in niche industries such as organic farming and native bush foods
  • Main cereal crops produced in Australia
    • Canola
    • Wheat
    • Oats
    • Barley
    • Rice
    • Maize
    • Sorghum
  • Value adding
    The processing or enhancement of a product to increase its shelf life and/or selling price
  • Value-added foods increase opportunities to provide employment for Australians, and the increased revenue, from higher priced foods, remains in Australia
  • The food processing and manufacturing sector of the Australian food industry is the largest sector of the agri-food chain and employs many people
  • The cost of labour in Australia has led to an increase in highly mechanised processing systems to ensure economic viability and a safe constant food supply
  • A large proportion of processing and manufacturing organisations are multinational, meaning they have operations spread across the world
  • Food service and catering
    Commercial food production and service to customers, often referred to as the hospitality industry
  • Organisations in the food service and catering sector
    • Hospitals
    • Nursing homes
    • Prisons
    • Armed services
    • Restaurants
    • Cafes
    • Clubs
    • Pubs
    • Fast-food establishments
  • Many multinational fast-food chains operate in this sector of the Australian Food Industry, including McDonalds, KFC and Subway
  • Food retail
    Provides places where consumers can purchase processed food items, including large national food chains and smaller stores
  • Small retail outlets may carry a limited range of food items but large, national stores offer a more diverse range