Cultivating resilience: advancing sustainable agriculture in Australia

Australia’s agricultural sector is a cornerstone of our national identity.  Our farmers feed our country, keep supermarket shelves stocked, support the vitality of our regional and rural centres, and make essential contributions to the Australian economy.

Farmers already well know how closely their businesses and livelihoods are intertwined with the health of the land. While agricultural production relies on natural assets and ecological systems to yield healthy crops and livestock, many conventional farming practices contribute to the degradation of the very ecosystems essential to a productive farm.

Agricultural activities are currently a leading cause of native animal habitat and biodiversity decline, accounting for 16.8% of net greenhouse gas emissions,74% of national water consumption and 55% of land use.

The urgency of implementing robust sustainability measures, for the sake of our planet and the Australian economy, is paramount. Future generations of Australian farmers—their children, and their children’s children—depend on these measures being implemented. Enhancing operational sustainability will not only boost the agricultural sector’s economic resilience, competitiveness, and long-term viability, but will also conserve our country’s invaluable natural resources, and ensure the legacies of Australian farming families live on.

With 70% of Australian agricultural products exported to neighbouring countries and beyond, our food systems need to align with rising global standards to secure ongoing market access and economic prosperity. As trade regulations on products linked to land clearing and biodiversity loss are progressively being imposed in the European Union, the United States, and other countries, Australia’s need to adapt is apparent.

Driving leadership in agricultural sustainability and boosting the resilience of Australian agriculture now and into the future, requires intention, information, incentives and investment. A

Intention

Until now, much of the ambition for sustainable practices has been driven by producers— particularly family-owned businesses who want to ensure the productivity of their land for generations to come. As the global dynamics shift, it’s time for the Australian Government to set more ambitious climate targets at a national level and to harmonise sustainability trajectories across the agricultural sector.

Information

Australia lacks an accurate, reliable and comprehensive foundation of environmental data—the very key to understanding the state of our land and the impact of farming practices. Quality information is critical for farmers, enabling them to set achievable goals and share techniques with one another to improve the sustainability of the industry into the future.

Although well-intentioned, the current sustainability reporting framework is fragmented, complex and time-consuming, preventing farmers from consistently showcasing their efforts to decarbonise and reduce their environmental footprint. As a result, players in the agricultural sector are losing motivation and trust in the transition process.

Strengthening our data capabilities will help the sector address the current lack of reliable environmental information. It is essential to have robust measurement, reporting and verification standards in order to move forward, maintain momentum, and encourage farmers to keep going. These standards will help give farmers credit for their efforts, improve understanding of the environmental impact of agricultural practices, and contribute to the development of new technologies and techniques for farmers to benefit from.

 Incentives

Our farmers understand the critical role of sustainable agriculture practices and see the impact up close and personal. But investing in new farming practices can be expensive, and weather related financial relief packages compensate farmers equally, irrespective of how climate resilient their business is. The Government needs to recalibrate its approach so that financial incentives encourage farmers to be proactive in responding to climate change and reward them for their efforts to adapt.

Investment 

Historically, sustainability efforts have been powered and funded by farmers themselves through sweat-equity. The tight-knit nature of farming communities sees farmers and Landcare groups trialling approaches, swapping insights, and floating ideas between themselves at local BBQs and town halls. But this approach to exchanging knowledge means that farmers in other geographies aren’t benefitting from insights which may be applicable in their businesses too. Farmers don’t have a lot of wiggle room to experiment with new approaches—each year brings new challenges exacerbated by changing climate conditions. Droughts and floods are a constant threat, and battling these very real and life-threatening challenges can significantly derail enthusiasm for innovation. In order to make real change, the Government and larger players must invest in research and development to bolster knowledge of sustainable practices across the country, including the identification and scaling up of approaches that are working. Put simply, more investment means more innovation, and more innovation means more solutions to climate challenges—solutions that the agricultural sector urgently needs.