Today productivity growth requires the adoption of a range of new skills and activities in addition to new production technologies. Growth now involves investing in human skills and education, analysing and using information, developing quality systems, marketing products, financial, technical and personnel management and adapting the institutional organisation and structure of the industry. Links between farmers and the regional society in which they live are also important to the continuing development of vibrant rural communities. The current era is known as the information age. Information and the skills, knowledge and systems to apply it to management are required for Australia s rural industries to become more innovative.
Innovation is necessary in order to maintain a competitive edge in today s global markets.
The better the quality of information and the more targeted and accessible it is to appropriately skilled farmers, the more successful the agricultural sector will be. This program focuses on developing effective, accessible, client-centred information, communication and education systems and processes. The program also aims to enhance human capital available to rural industries through improved practices for farm health and safety, research related to social issues in rural communities and households and the provision of scholarships for rural leadership and postgraduate research. A report evaluating the use of the Internet as a tool to increase the cost-effectiveness of interactions among scientists, advisers and farmers when using computer simulation models. A report on a standardised classification system and thesaurus for Australian agricultural extension information.