The golden age of Australian agriculture attracting a new wave of workers
March 15, 2021As agriculture technology undergoes monumental growth in Australia, the industry is seeing a rise in long-term employment, with the workforce growing by 13.16 per cent between 2019 and 2020[1].
Following the Government’s release of a roadmap for Australian agriculture with a vision to grow the industry to $100 billion within the decade, it is expected that this plan will play a major role in continuing to attract workers domestically and internationally.
Pacific Seeds newly appointed Western Australia Territory Manager Dan McGrath relocated with his family from New Zealand to be part of what he believes is the golden age of Australia’s $63 billion agriculture industry.
“Australia is seeing investment from paths that wouldn’t traditionally invest in agriculture or that may have shied away in the last 20 years and now they’ve come back,” said Mr McGrath.
“People are moving some of their money away from mining and into agriculture, and it’s a brilliant space to be in because that’s where innovation comes from.
“I came back to Australia to work for a really innovative propriety seed company – Pacific Seeds have a really great pipeline, it’s healthy, it has good people, it’s grounded.
“They’re feeding the world, they’re innovative with how they approach this, and they’re good at it,” Mr McGrath said.
Western Australia is a world-leading minerals, energy, and agricultural economy as well as a global science and innovation research and knowledge hub.
“Our growers are pragmatic and resilient people due to being remote as well as the unpredictable climate they have grown up with,” Mr McGrath said.
“The state is inventive and adaptive, and collaboratives with the agriculture community to remain competitive and sustainable to its large exporting market.
“So much has changed in the last few decades, the environments we work in are ever changing whether it’s weather, diseases or pests – we have to meet these challenges with energy that is sustainable.
“Feeding the world is the biggest job on earth and we are devoted, through innovation, collaboration, science and research – we have to keep growing so farmers can do the same.
A difficult task to do behind a desk, Mr McGrath plans to drive these territories with real face time knowing the relationship Pacific Seeds have with their growers are extremely important.
“In this role it is important to be supportive because our success comes from our grower’s success and vice versa, therefore collaboration is crucial to our industry.
Contact: Dan McGrath, Territory Manager Southern WA
Ph: 0448 014 892 or email: dan.mcgrath@advantaseeds.com