Irrigators celebrate Australian Made Week and call for the National Food Security Strategy to include water security for farming.
23rd May 2025, Canberra, ACT: The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) joined a chorus of Australian businesses this ‘Australian Made Week (19-25 May), by celebrating Aussie grown food and fibre, with a call to action for the Federal Government to include water security for farming in their new National food security strategy: Feeding Australia.
“This week we celebrate how 93% of Australia's fruit, nuts and grapes together with 83% of our vegetables are all grown by Aussie irrigators,” said NIC CEO, Ms Zara Lowien.
“The Aussie agriculture sector grows enough food to feed 75 million people each year, making a vital contribution to Australian and global food security”.
“It is so important for all Australians that we have a secure, sustainable and reliable agricultural sector at home to meet our own needs but our global responsibilities”.
The Aussie irrigation sector recognises the importance of sustainability and responsible water use and is proud to feed and clothe Australians and others globally with world-leading practices.
“We can produce more crop per drop than any other nation,” said Ms Lowien.
Aussie grown rice uses 50% less water than the global average.
Aussie grown cotton uses 52% less water compared to 1997.
“Despite being world-leaders in water efficient production, farmers need water to grow food and fibre, and to-date policy reforms have focused on reducing water for agriculture”.
“In Australia's food bowl – the Murray Darling Basin, this means one in three litres of irrigation water is now returned to the environment which this will reduce farm-gate agricultural production between $602 million - $914 million per year[1]”.
“Thats at lot less Aussie milk, cheese, rice and vegetables,” said Ms Lowien.
“We are calling on the Albanese Government to include water security for farming in the new national food security strategy committed during their election campaign,”
“Water security is an essential ingredient to food security,” said Ms Lowien, “you can’t have a national food security strategy without water security for those who produce it”.
The Albanese Government committed $3.5 million to the development of a new national food security strategy as part of their election campaign.[2]
Ends.
Media Contact: Zara Lowien, CEO
0427 521 399
ceo@irrigators.org.au
[1] As outlined in the Government’s Regulatory Impact Statements.
[2] Feeding Australia: Albanese Labor Government's plan to secure our food future | Ministers
Click here to download a PDF of this Media Release
