AUSTRALIA must boost its food exports and help poor countries develop their own agriculture, according to a global food aid expert.

Former Australian and United Nations food aid chief James Ingram said Australia must play a key role in combating the global food crisis.

Releasing a Crawford Fund task force report on the crisis yesterday, Mr Ingram said Australia's record of science-based agriculture and farm exporting meant it was well-placed to make a contribution.

"Precisely because we stand to benefit economically from the likely long-term rise in agricultural export prices, much will be expected of us," he said.

"Even more than now, in a more crowded world, Australia will be seen as privileged, enjoying advantages not shared by more densely populated countries in Asia and Africa."

The call came as the National Farmers' Federation hosts a two-day meeting of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers to discuss the food crisis and issues such as climate change, trade reform and animal welfare.

Farmer representatives from Europe, South America, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and Asia are attending.

Mr Ingram said Australia should expand its food output and lift its exports by boosting farm R&D and beefing up its agricultural science resources, including a special science and technology "precinct" in Australia's north.

It should help less developed countries, especially in Asia and Africa, lift their own farm production and gain access to developed markets, he said. The task force report also said Australia must devote more of its foreign aid to agriculture and rural development, and direct more towards Sub-Saharan Africa and areas of extreme poverty in the Asia Pacific.

NFF chief executive Ben Fargher said freeing up world trade and boosting food exports were the key to tackling the crisis.

"Cutting world trade barriers, not using domestic protectionism, is the way to go," he said. "We must line up domestic policy with global trade reform."

Domestic policies in Australia should focus on lifting the lagging rate of farm productivity growth by boosting R&D spending, Mr Fargher said.

"We should also be investing in on-farm irrigation infrastructure, not just buying back water from farmers, and pushing ahead with GM crops."