Climate change could wipe billions of dollars from Australia's economy, as wheat crops are hit by rising temperatures and lower rainfall, new research shows.
Scientists warn the nation will face pressures on domestic food production and loss of export markets unless the Federal Government boosts funding for research into the impact of climate change on farming.
Wheat is Australia's major crop with an annual value of $4.2billion.
"We are well behind the United States in levels of funding and collaborative research efforts to address the future problems of climate change," Queensland University agricultural scientist Professor Peter Grace said.
"Unless we invest in research that looks ahead to preparing farmers for climate change, Australia is in real danger of being left behind and losing global markets."
Figures issued in the 2006-07 federal budget put the percentage of total government expenditure on agricultural science research at 0.14 per cent.
The Australian Greenhouse Office has previously estimated that by 2030, the value of wheat exports could fall by an average of $82million.
But after studying the impact of climate change on five major grain-growing areas across the country - including the NSW Riverina - Professor Grace believes the potential loss could be much higher.
He found that any boost in productivity as a result of climate change and increased levels of carbon dioxide would be offset by rising temperatures and lower rainfall. Farmers can also expect shorter growing periods and new pests and diseases under changing climatic conditions. "In Australia over the next 30 to 50 years, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are predicted to increase significantly, with temperatures rising up to three degrees and rainfall falling by around 20 per cent or more in some areas.
"Under these conditions and with the wheat varieties and agronomic practices currently used in Australia, we would expect to see an average decline in wheat yields across the country of 15 per cent which equates to around a billion dollars in lost income."
The wheat regions most affected by global warming were South Australia's southern Mallee, with a 24 per cent decline in production, the northern Eyre Peninsula (19 per cent) and the NSW Riverina (12 per cent).
Greens senator Rachel Siewert, who worked as an agricultural scientist in the West Australian wheat belt, said tackling the impact of climate change on agriculture would require "extensive and sophisticated" research.
"The federal budget for agricultural research hasn't increased to the degree that's necessary. We're already seeing crop damage caused by changing weather patterns, such as frost cycles, so it's's already obvious that we need to think about agriculture differently to prepare for the future."
The National Farmers Federation has called for a targeted national research program, claiming farmers lack adequate information about potential climate change impacts to make sound farm management decisions.
The NFF was a partner in a recent bid to establish a Cooperative Research Centre for Managing Plants for Climate Change, but the proposal has been rejected by the Federal Government.