The Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics& Sciences (ABARES) has released a report titled ‘What Asia Wants: Long Term Food Consumption Trends in Asia Today’ to help Australian producers and exporters better plan efforts to increase agricultural exports to Asia. In China import demands will increase for coarse grains, sugar, beef, sheep and goat meat, dairy products and vegetable oil. Dairy imports to India are forecast to increase to US$13 billion by 2050 and India is expected to become a significant net importer of fruits and vegetables totaling US$14 billion by 2050 as well. In the ASEAN member states fruit and vegetable consumption is expected to double by 2050 and beef consumption is projected to be 120% higher than in 2007. Fruit and vegetable net imports will total US$8 billion and beef imports will expand by US$3 billion by 2050. In order for Australia to ensure it can meet the needs of these growing markets, the country must ensure that trade barriers are removed, research, development and infrastructure are all invested in, sustainability is improved, and younger people are lured into farming.
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