It’s great to see agriculture policies being put on the table for the upcoming election, although perhaps not taking the limelight as many other policy areas. Food security, quality, environmental sustainability and product affordability all have one thing in common – research. Keeping our agricultural sectors free of pests and disease which reduce productivity and harm export markets is the linchpin to Australia’s economical future. Whichever party is successful at the polls, I hope they will continue to see the importance of investment in agricultural R&D activities. If you’re interested in reading more about these proposed policies, they are online at www.alp.org.au and www.liberal.org.au