As the world population continues to grow, Australia could capitalise on organic export markets, says Bond University sustainability professor Tor Hundloe. He has been investigating Australia’s role in feeding the world, with the global population predicted to hit 9.7 billion in 2050. Through his most recent research he discovered Australia had the most organically farmed land in the world: more than five times that of Argentina who came in second on the list.

“We are a very large continent and much of Australia is semi-arid or arid.  On that land chemicals have never been used, fertilisers have never been used, pesticides, so it’s basically virgin country, organic country, as it is,” he said.

“We’ve [also] got land that is fairly easily converted from conventional farming back to organic, and I’m thinking about dairying country where that land can revert to being organic.”  He said the potential to produce greater amounts of organic food was of huge benefit to Australian farmers.

Professor Hundloe said he had been watching trends overseas and there was a steady increase in the number of people who wanted to buy “cleaner, greener” food.

“We’ve got a good chance of feeding those wealthier people in China and South East Asia. They’re demanding the sort of product we have [such as] good, clean beef, milk and cereal,” said Professor Hundloe.

“When our fruit and vegetables are coming on in summer it is winter in northern Asia and we can supply fruit and vegetables into those markets. We predict China is going to produce an enormous amount of beef as the middle class of China becomes richer. We are in a beaut position to capitalise on export markets.”