The 2030 Roadmap demonstrates the real confidence in a community that is among the most adaptable and forward-thinking of Australia’s industry sectors.

Applying continuous innovation to the way farms are run has already led to an industry worth about $60 billion a year.

Another area that can drive profitability into farm businesses is the adoption of water efficiencies. As drought puts pressure on the Basin’s finite water resources, now more than ever, many farmers are considering the opportunities and risks relating to water.

Just as river managers need to run the river efficiently to meet multiple demands, the strong uptake of opportunities funded under the Basin Plan in the past 10 years has demonstrated the desire among many irrigators to prepare for the future by modernising their water infrastructure.

While some of the water they have saved has improved the river’s health, the remainder has added to farm productivity. Water efficiency should continue to be one of the areas for investment that farmers consider when looking to improve their business.

This requirement of the Basin Plan is the other side of the coin that has reduced by 605 gigalitres the amount of water that irrigators need to return to the river, thanks to environmental efficiencies agreed by state governments.

Innovations that have arisen under the Basin Plan are all about ensuring the river system is fit and healthy. I encourage all people in the Basin to seriously look at water efficiency opportunities.

Flexibility and adaptability are the strength of the farming community. I applaud the forward thinking that continues to underpin the optimism and collective inventiveness that will help this sector become a $100 billion sector by 2030.

The principle behind achieving that goal today remains the same as ever: helping each other to find better ways of doing things.

Neil Andrew is the chair of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.