Title: Australian agricultural R&D and innovation systems

Authors: Tony Sorensen

Addresses: University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia

Abstract: The work of Richard Florida and others links economic development with the growing creativity of large, tolerant and cosmopolitan cities. In contrast, this article documents a highly creative and innovative agrarian counterpart. Australia, unlike most countries, exports much of its farm output which, in turn, receives little public subsidy. This paper explores how cutting-edge Research and Development (R&D) and rapid innovation contribute to maintaining the sector|s global competitiveness, combined with scale economies and quality control. In so doing, it queries the validity of urban-biased theories of creativity, and shows that a rural version can be equally powerful in its separate domain.

Keywords: rural research; creativity; efficiency; psychology; Australia; agriculture; R&D research and development; innovation systems; Richard Florida; tolerance; large cities; cosmopolitan cities; agrarian communities; exports; farm outputs; farming; public subsidies; rapid innovation; global competitiveness; scale economies; quality control; urban bias; foresight; innovation policies; innovative business resources; economic development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2011.040074

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2011 Vol.7 No.1/2/3, pp.192 - 212

Published online: 25 Apr 2015 *

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