Accounting for agriculture in place-based frameworks for regional development: Discussion paper

The Cairns Institute, James Cook University and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation have established a project focused on the contribution of agriculture to regional development. Agriculture is important to many regions of Australia contributing directly to regional economies as well as indirectly making social and environmental contributions to regional sustainability. To continue to make this significant contribution agricultural industries have had to adjust to changes in markets, cost structures, government policies and technology as well as environmental risks including drought and natural disasters. How agriculture responds to these changes, however, varies from region to region with some industries remaining static or declining while others have evolved and adapted more readily to change.