APPROPRIATE treatments for fruit flies is just one topic set for discussion when agriculture minister David Littleproud lobs up in Europe.
The minister has begun his European visit, billed as fighting for more market access for Australian farmers.
According to the minister’s office, scientific protocols need to be agreed upon before Australia can send produce to Europe.
For instance, agreement could be required on treatments Australian fruit growers might use to kill all fruit flies and larvae to ensure the fly does not spread to the importing nations.
“Market access is one of the biggest parts of the agriculture portfolio,” Mr Littleproud said.
“After trade deals are done, we need to actually be able to send our farm products to the countries we want to. Obtaining market access and negotiating export protocols are often very long processes which can be sped up by direct meetings between ministers.”
Mr Littleproud said he would be meeting with EU Agriculture Ministers, attending the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference and meeting with G20 Agriculture Ministers.
“I’ll also meet with local farm groups, tour the World Horticulture Centre and speak to potential investors in Australian agriculture,” he said.
“These kinds of meetings help delivers our farmers more options – more countries they can sell their produce to – when harvest season comes.”
