As a former deputy prime minister of Australia, John Anderson is a known public figure with political connections that many private companies would happily leverage. But as the newly announced chair of the Crawford Fund, Anderson will be using his political connections and public visibility to increase education and awareness of the important role Australia’s agricultural research community plays in improving crop production and food security in developing countries.
Encouraging submissions for Australia’s new foreign policy white paper was a key focus for Anderson. Submissions closed on Feb. 28 and with the review process now under way, he sat down with Devex to discuss his expectations of the white paper review, issues affecting food security, and priorities for agricultural research and food security in his new role. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
You were very keen to encourage submissions for the foreign policy white paper that focus on Australia’s involvement in agricultural research, food security and biosecurity. What message are you giving to organizations to urge their involvement?