Prime Super contributes to economic panel discussion

The forces that will shape the global economy as it transitions back to economic normality, and the implications for the agrifood sector, were discussed during a Prime Super sponsored discussion panel at the 2021 National Farmers Federation national conference in Canberra.

Sustainability was a recuring theme for the panel members in a discussion that covered broad range of economic issues including supply chain challenges, regional labour shortages, interest rates and inflation.

The panel included Prime Super’s CEO, Lachlan Baird. Other panelists were senior representatives of Rabobank Australia, Australian Food and Grocery Council and Nutrien Ag Solutions. The session was moderated by political reporter from The Daily Telegraph, Clare Armstrong.

Volatility, low returns on cash, inflationary pressures and the valuation of the share market were noted by Lachlan as some of the key risks in the outlook for the Australian economy.

During the discussion, each panel member highlighted the focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues by their organisation as it applied to the agricultural sector.

Lachlan gave the example of Prime Super’s 100 per cent ownership of a wind farm in western Victoria, Morton’s Lane Wind Farm, as an investment in sustainable ways to support the energy needs of regional Australians.

With a strong connection to rural and regional Australia, Prime Super was pleased to support the NFF’s 2022 National Conference.

Prime Super has been a supporter of the National Farmers Federation for over 25 years. The fund has its foundation in regional Australia with a strong membership base in regional and rural Australia formed in 1996 through the amalgamation of four rural super funds.

About the conference

The National Farmers Federation used the conference to launch Time to Thrive – Stronger Regions for all Australians platform which outlines five key priorities for a future federal government.

With the overarching theme of Sustaining the Nation, the conference focused on the sub-themes of:

• environment: how agriculture can be on the front line of reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions
• economy: how the farm sector can contribute to Australia’s ongoing prosperity and
• community: the people building farming communities.