Place-Based Agricultural Development: A New Way of Thinking about an Old Idea in Northern Australia

Abstract

The establishment of a northern food bowl has been a central theme in discussions about the development of Australia north of the Tropic of Capricorn (Australian Government, 2014; Australian Labor Party, 2013; Liberal Party of Australia, 2013). This policy drive has remained despite over a century of failed attempts to develop broad-scale cropping in the north beyond central and coastal North Queensland. This cycle of publicly expressed expectation for Northern Australia to produce food and fibre through broad-acre cropping is discussed as a ‘circular conundrum’ (Andrews, 2014, p. 2). This circular conundrum begins with the setting of high expectations, moves to cropping attempts, then usually to project failure, and back around to high expectations (Andrews, 2014).