Engineering in Australian Agriculture

The contribution that engineering might make to Australian agriculture in the foreseeable future is reviewed in relation to three major challenges facing rural research: the need to (1) improve economic efficiency in order to counter the continuing cost/price pressure on farmers, (2) reduce environmental degradation, especially soil erosion, salinization of soil and water and pesticide pollution, and (3) exploit the latest advances in information technology. It is concluded that engineering should play a larger role in future as part of an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to rural research and extension.