GrainGrowers is a national organisation working to enhance the profitability and sustainability of Australian grain farmers. We achieve this through our focus areas of policy and advocacy, grower engagement, thought leadership and active investment in future focused activities for all growers. Australian growers are at the heart of all that we do and the focus of our work.
The GrainGrowers submission to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) public consultation on the Agriculture and Land Sectoral Plan is available at Attachment 1 and should be read in conjunction to this submission.
The agricultural industry in Australia, as a significant steward of the land, has already demonstrated significant commitments to climate change mitigation through reducing emissions, sequestering carbon on-farm and building resilience to climate impacts through responsible landscape management.
Wide adoption of best practices across the sector such as minimum tillage, controlled traffic farming, better nitrogen application and improved regional rotations have demonstrable potential to contribute to GHG emission reductions. At the same time, the risks of climate change and climate variability to the grains sector are significant and impact every farm business. We recognise climate change also creates new opportunities for innovation and growth for the agricultural sector.
With targeted support and incentives, the grain sector can leverage its on-ground knowledge to cost effectively mitigate emissions on a meaningful scale. This will better position Australian agriculture to thrive in a lower-carbon future while contributing to global efforts against climate change.
GrainGrowers supports:
- Net zero carbon by 2050 for Australia.
- 15% reduction in grains emissions intensity by 2030.
- Halve embedded emissions in inputs by 2040.
When considering targets, the authority must ensure realistic timeframes that support long-term planning and investment in sustainable practices. There must also be meaningful support measures to achieve the target in an economically sensible way.