This report analyses the results of a 2024 survey of 2800 Australians to understand public sentiment towards the grains industry to identify ways to build social licence and community trust.

Key points

• If Australian grain growers want public support for ‘social licence’ to keep farming they need to earn people’s trust.
• Trust is earned by listening and responding to community concerns and demonstrating good environmental practices.
• The community holds some positive perceptions about the sector, for example, 84 per cent of respondents believe the grains industry generates significant local jobs in regional areas.
• The strongest driver of public confidence and trust in the grains industry is procedural fairness – the industry’s ability to listen and address concerns.