12 October 2021.
The Australian agriculture industry is characterised by significant climate variability and continues to enlist practices that reduce emissions and the risks associated with operating in a volatile environment.
AgForce recognises that environmental change and variability pose significant challenges to Australian producers, and also creates opportunity for innovation in farming practices.
To continue to remain competitive and develop long-term productive strategies, broadacre industry continues adaption to the short-term seasonal variability as well as long-term climate trends. As a long-standing member of our national body, AgForce supports in principle the National Farmers Federation policy positioning around climate change.
While recognising that climate change is a global challenge and responsibility, AgForce is committed to ensuring the productive capacity of the agricultural industry is maintained and increased in a sustainable manner through being responsive to government policy changes and supporting our members as they work toward industry targets.
Of utmost importance is ensuring that any government responses support the long-term viability of the broadacre agricultural sector, ensuring improved producer resilience to their changing environment. Responses must support the efforts of the agriculture industry and associated supply chain sectors to innovate and adapt operational practices.
AgForce supports policies that focus on tangible measures for improved agricultural practices including those leading to industry targets of reduced emissions while securing satisfactory business outcomes. This includes to:
- Ensure policy settings incentivise adoption of identified better practices.
- Strategic infrastructure investment that improve efficiencies.
- Investment in R&D and tools that support decision making associated with resilience and competitiveness of enterprises.
- Ensure continuous improvement through evaluation and review of policy settings.
AgForce advocates that agriculture must be recognised for its efforts to date to adapt processes in favour of emission reduction, along with being susceptible to supply chain constraints beyond the sector’s control, e.g., transportation costs.
Regulation and policies should not unfairly impose farmers with the cost of achieving national/state emission reduction objectives or impact an enterprises’ development. Carbon sequestration services should be fully compensated and not be the source of low-cost abatement to other sectors through regulation.
Property rights must be respected, and producers provided with flexibility to manage their land in a way that suits farming business, while maintaining environmental outcomes.
Adoption of new practices relating to emission reduction should not cause adverse outcomes, such as loss of prime agricultural land or pest and weed encroachment.
AgForce Queensland Farmers 2018. For further information please contact AgForce AgBusiness Policy, agforce@agforceqld.org.au
or (07) 3236 3100