NSW Farmers says National Agriculture Day is a great reminder for all Aussies to focus on who's really feeding their future.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said Australia's $82 billion agricultural industry was the foundation of the nation's food security, and would increasingly play a critical role in ensuring global food security into the future.
"In NSW alone, farmers can produce 100 million litres of milk, half a million tonnes of rice, 523,000 tonnes of grapes and 239,000 tonnes of oranges in a single year," Mr Martin said.
"Aussie agriculture keeps food on the table, clothes on our backs, people in jobs and whole families caring for the land and ensuring food security for generations to come.
"It's a sector with a really positive story - and it's a story we need to start sharing far and wide, if we want to be able to feed the future."
There was no time like National Agriculture Day to reflect on how food gets on the nation's forks, Mr Martin said, with agriculture forming an essential part of everyday life around the planet.
"Your orange juice, Weet Bix, bacon and eggs or cup of tea, those ingredients were all grown on a farm. The fact is we all need a farmer three times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it's worth knowing what goes in to growing the healthy, fresh food you get to enjoy day in, day out," Mr Martin said.
"Our farmers are world leaders, with the sustainability and health credentials of our fresh food second to none, and our fibre is in demand across many different markets.
"Taking a moment to appreciate farmers and learn about agriculture and how it operates is important if we want to keep our farmers farming and secure food security for not just Australia, but also the world."
