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Department of Agriculture

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  1. AWE Home
  2. ABARES
  3. Research topics
  4. Agricultural productivity
  5. International comparisons

Secondary ABARES

  • Agricultural productivity
    • Agricultural productivity estimates
    • International comparisons
    • Measuring productivity
    • Pathways to sustainable and productive agriculture
    • Productivity data
    • Productivity drivers
      • Seasonal workers and working holiday makers comparison report
    • Productivity introduction
    • Productivity publications
    • Related research
      • Labour force survey
      • Rural research, development and extension investment in Australia

International comparisons

Comparing Australia’s agricultural productivity performance with that of other countries is a useful way of understanding our international competiveness.

Agricultural productivity differences between countries reflect physical, climatic, geographic, economic and policy differences. These factors determine the inherent suitability of a country for agricultural production and have a strong influence on the structure of agricultural industries.

In addition, capacity for R&D and innovation, magnitude of capital investment and flexibility to reallocate resources over time all contribute to differences in productivity levels and growth rates across countries.

ABARES research shows that Australian agricultural productivity remains below that of Canada and the United States in level terms —but also that our productivity has grown has improved relative to Canada.

Australia has maintained its relative productivity position with these competitors despite challenges such as greater climate variability, remoteness from global markets and a smaller capacity for rural R&D.

Agricultural TFP levels: Australia, Canada and the United States, 1961 to 2006

TFP levels between 1961 and 2006 shown for Australia (growing at 1.6% annually), Canada (growing at 1.2% annually) and the United states (growing at 1.8% annually). 

Source: Sheng, Nossal and Ball 2013

The technology responsible for past productivity growth in Australian agriculture is now widely accessible in emerging and developing countries. Over time, adoption of this technology will allow farmers in these countries to ‘catch up’ from a lower productivity base. Work by the USDA shows that countries such as Brazil and China have experienced rapid productivity growth, from a lower base, over the past few decades. Farmers from these countries are therefore becoming increasingly competitive in international markets because they are able to profitably sell their products for a lower price.

Key research reports

Sheng Y, Nossal, K & Ball,  2013, Comparing agricultural total factor productivity between Australia, Canada and the United States, Contributed paper prepared for presentation at the 57th AARES Annual Conference, Sydney, New South Wales, 5–8 February 2013.

Sheng & Nossal 2013, Cross country comparisons of agricultural productivity an Australian perspective, ABARES report to RIRDIC, Canberra.

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Last updated: 21 October 2020

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