mmg.com.au

Federal Water Minister Tony Burke is ‘‘very aware’’ of food security issues, according to SunRice chairman Gerry Lawson.

Mr Lawson (pictured) showed Mr Burke the Deniliquin Rice Mill as part of the minister’s regional tour this month.

Mr Burke also met with stakeholders and visited farms to discuss the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan.

The plan proposes diverting 2750 gigalitres of productive water to the environment, and is expected to remove a further 20 to 30 per cent of irrigation water from the region.

About 20 per cent has already been lost through government buy-backs.

Mr Lawson said he was pleased to show Mr Burke a ‘‘big rural manufacturing business’’.

‘‘It was good to be able to demonstrate what happens to the water; how it grows the highest yielding crops in the world that are expertly processed and delivered around the world. He (Mr Burke) was there to look at what happens to the produce of water that’s used to produce food.’’

Mr Lawson said SunRice had a ‘‘very strong view’’ on the basin plan.

‘‘As a nation we need to ensure that we use the maximum water available to produce food.

‘‘Food security for the world is incredibly important.

‘‘We’ve got to decide what percentage (of water) gets used ultimately to feed humans, whilst recognising the importance of the environment.

‘‘I think he (Mr Burke) is conscious of that.’’

Former deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer recently raised concerns about food security, telling the National Press Club that ‘‘the world’s food production may decline by 25 per cent at exactly the time when we need to double it due to expanding population’’.