If Australian grain growers want public support for 'social licence' to keep farming they need to earn people's trust, by listening and responding to community concerns and demonstrating good environmental practices.
This is one of the key findings of a comprehensive survey undertaken for GRDC that involved interviews with more than 2800 Australians for the Community Trust in Grains program.
The survey builds on data collected as part of a three-year program, which identified challenges facing the grains industry as well as strategies to strengthen trust within communities.
The recently released Community Trust in Grains 2024 report highlighted opportunities for improved engagement between grain growers and the public and revealed some positive perceptions the community currently held about the sector.
GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart, said the grains sector was increasingly aware of the importance of building and maintaining trust with the broader community.
"We understand that trust is not just about ensuring the public understands the grains industry, it's about making sure we are actively listening to community concerns and demonstrating that our industry is prepared to respond to them," Mr Hart said.
"This important work gives organisations, such as GRDC, and grain growers a roadmap to build a stronger relationship with the public."
Specialist social researcher Kieren Moffat from Queensland-based company Voconiq led the survey research for GRDC.
Dr Moffat said encouragingly the survey revealed some positive public perceptions with 84 per cent of respondents believing the grains industry generated significant local jobs in regional areas.
"In another positive finding, 65 per cent of survey respondents agreed the grains industry was committed to using new technologies and was innovative in its approach to grain production," he said.
"Importantly we also heard that 65 per cent of respondents trust Australian grain growers to use pesticides responsibly."
He said building public trust was critical for grain growers to retain and maintain their social licence to operate in an environment with increasing climate challenges and sustainability pressures.
"Since we surveyed the general public for the first grains focused research in 2021 there has been a significant shift in the factors driving trust, including a renewed emphasis on environmental and sustainability targets," Dr Moffat said.
The report underscores that the strongest driver of public confidence and trust in the grains industry is procedural fairness – the industry's ability to listen and address concerns.
Australians expect the grains industry to demonstrate fairness and equality in its operation, and when this expectation is met, public trust increases. Trust has a direct influence on the acceptance of industry, which serves as a proxy for its social licence to operate.
"When people feel that an industry is willing to engage with their concerns and act transparently, their level of trust rises significantly," Dr Moffat said.
"In 2024, trust has clearly emerged as the strongest driver of community acceptance, showing that fair processes and accountability are essential for the grains industry's future."
Australians expect the grains industry to demonstrate strong environmental stewardship, holding the sector accountable for its impacts through operations. This expectation aligns with broader trends, as consumers and communities prioritise sustainability across multiple sectors of agriculture.
Innovation also plays a key role, with the report finding that technological advancements can positively impact public trust and acceptance. Australians want to see that the grains industry is leveraging innovation to address environmental and operational change while improving productivity.
The 2024 report also explored emerging trends reflecting broader societal shifts, such as attitudes towards plant-based proteins. Additionally, employment opportunities in the grains sector remains an area of public interest, specifically in rural communities where the industry serves as a major economic driver.
"As the grains industry continues to innovate, we must ensure that we are not only improving our practices but also communicating these improvements to the Australian community," Mr Hart said.
"The insights from this report will help us align our efforts with community values, ensuring we maintain and build trust as we move forward. This research is about more than just data: it's about understanding community concerns and working collaboratively to address them."
