THE United Nations says global population will soar past 9.2 billion by 2050. It warns the global demand for food will double over the next 40 or 50 years.
So the debate over the destruction of valuable cropping land by mining can only intensify.
The world's food production is increasingly constrained by the demand for land, water and resources. Australia is uniquely placed to help feed the world.
The Hunt Report points out that the productivity of Australian agriculture must be seen not only as an economic imperative, but as a matter of national and international food security.
Will Julia Gillard and Anna Bligh please spell out how they intend to preserve our precious rural assets?