Resilience of the Horticultural Community: Engaged Researchers Promoting Productivity and Profitability

Abstract

Brown and Best analyse an agricultural research case study to highlight the interdependence of environmental, economic and social capitals and the roles each play in building sustainability and community resilience. Agricultural industries play a critical role as economic drivers of resilience in regional communities but profitability and productivity are influenced by a number of factors, including natural disasters. In this chapter, long-term industry production data, profitability trends, and grower perceptions of factors driving production and profit trends are analysed for the Bundaberg region in regional Queensland. Awareness in the agricultural industry of the constraints and drivers of productivity and profitability were found to contribute to the development of grower strategies for their own businesses, and therefore contribute to economic sustainability and community resilience.