Agricultural leaders who are fed up with supply chain pressures have called for an acceleration of migration efforts to fill 170,000 vacant roles.
The National Food Supply Chain Alliance, representing 160,000 businesses, says urgent action is needed to reduce the impact of inflationary pressures on food.
Alliance member, the National Farmers Federation (NFF) believes that food inflation – up about 15% in some categories, is one of the cost of living pressures the federal government could influence.
The Alliance includes the National Farmers’ Federation, the Australian Meat Industry Council, Seafood Industry Australia, Independent Food Distributors Australia, AUSVEG, Master Grocers Australia, the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association and the Australian Association of Convenience Stores and the Refrigerated Transport and Warehouse Association.
The NFF says the food supply chain urgently needs measures such as reducing barriers to work and suitable visa pathways to welcome overseas workers.
“This should include a greater focus on ASEAN countries for schemes which service the sector,” the Federation said in a website statement.
The federation called on the government to collaborate with industry “to stabilise the myriad of ever-increasing input costs. Labour shortages, energy prices, increasing wages, fuel and supply chain disruptions are all issues negatively impacting the supply chain.”
Agriculture accounts for approximately 11.6% of Australia’s goods and services exports, 2.4% of GDP and employs approximately 300,000 people, according to CSIRO.
In the UK, food prices have risen by almost 20% in the year to April 2023 and are about 25% up in 18 months.
