Balancing agriculture, renewable energy and regional development will be critical in coming decades as Australia moves to a Net Zero future.
Land use is set to become a potential battleground for policy makers, but NSW Farmers Conservation and Resource Management Chair Bronwyn Petrie says there is a better way to balance food production and the environment.
"Agriculture is an industry like no other as it is vital to sustaining human life," Mrs Petrie said.
"With a changing climate already affecting productive farmland, we need to ensure we protect the ability of Aussie farmers to help feed the planet.
"This means putting the right development in the right place and including farmers in the decision making so we can secure our future."
Australia's agricultural output is growing despite high production costs and tough regulations - according to the NFF, each farmer's labour feeds 600 people annually - 150 here at home and 450 overseas.
"This is a critical factor that's sometimes missed in the climate debate - we have alternative fuels, but no alternative foods," Mrs Petrie said.
"Net Zero is an important global goal, but so is food production and it's crucial we have a system that acknowledges the importance of agricultural land and the fact that it's a finite resource.
"We are urging our state and federal governments to make sure productive agricultural land is properly classified, identified and protected."
Mrs Petrie said policy positions on a range of matters relating to Net Zero and its potential impact on agriculture and regional communities had been established, and with appropriate planning and consultation, land use interests could harmoniously co-exist and deliver benefits for entire regional communities.
"With five new Renewable Energy Zones set for New South Wales, it's important we get the energy transition right for regional communities, and central to that is consultation," Mrs Petrie said.
"Regional communities stand to benefit from the energy transition, but there are placement issues, therefore we need assurance these projects will leave a positive legacy and they are appropriate for the amenity of the region.
"The Agriculture Commissioner needs to be a critical link between farmers and the government's environment, land use and agriculture departments, and we support the scope of this role being broadened to ensure better long-term coordination."
