The Australian sugar industry faces market conditions which represent a serious
challenge to the profitability and business viability of sugar farmers, and which suggest
ongoing structural adjustment in the farming sector. The industry is also likely to face
greater requirements for measurement and accountability in environmental
sustain ability, including its relationship to greenhouse and biodiversity management.
Innovations derived from new information and genetic technologies are likely to be
packaged as commercial products whose introduction will be supported by the relevant
commercial interests. Demographic changes mean that the clients of extension and their
business management needs are more varied than in the past. The future position of
extension appears to be focussed in three areas likely to be broadly funded by industry,
namely, the maintenance of incremental technical progress; the development of new
farming systems in response to technological change or changes in market requirements,
and the development of effective linkages with commercial providers, government
services, and educational services. Key attributes of extension people of the future will
be their willingness to look outside existing industry boundaries for new opportunities
to meet customer needs, and for the innovative capacity and management skills to
exploit new opportunities for the future development of the sugar industry.