Senator Richard Colbeck described it as a new round of policy work to address the workforce skills issues that were holding Australia back.

``Right now Australia's primary industries contribute billions of dollars to our economy and the sector has a bright future under the right conditions,'' Senator Colbeck said. ``One hurdle is that the agrifoods industry struggles to attract appropriately skilled people and this is a barrier to business expansion.

``We've put together a number of speakers from various perspectives around agriculture ... (for a forum) to try to co-ordinate, in a much more broader way, agriculture and education in agriculture.''

State opposition primary industries spokesman Jeremy Rockliff said that the Liberals recognised primary industries as the lifeblood of rural and regional communities and they saw real potential for economic growth if skills and education issues could be addressed.

``Nothing is being done at a state level apart from the rhetoric of the food bowl - there is so much that is needed to fill the food bowl and education is such a critical part of that,'' Mr Rockliff said.

Policy co-author Eric Hutchinson said that traditional industries like wool and livestock would flourish under irrigation development, but the things that were going to stamp Tasmania on the international market were likely to be small volume, high-value niche products.

The Liberals will host their agrifood forum at Clarendon House on February 24, from 1pm. Cost is $60 for the forum and barbecue or $30 for the forum only. Details are available at www.richard colbeck.com.au.