Ag ministers make national statement on ‘climate-smart’ farming push

A national statement on climate change will be agreed on today by agriculture ministers. This is what it means for farmers.

A landmark national statement urging Australian farmers to cut emissions and demonstrate sustainability credentials to international and local markets through “climate-smart” practices is expected to be agreed on today by Australia’s agriculture ministers.

The National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture is a “clear-eyed” assessment of where the nation’s agriculture industry is currently positioned and designed to act as a guide rail to help governments and farmers meet future challenges.

A national strategy to help agriculture transition from more traditional farming methods to climate-change adaptation was first agreed by the Agriculture Ministers Forum in 2018.

Recent ABARES analysis found climate change responsible for reducing the average farm’s profitability by 23 per cent, or nearly $30,000 per property, over the past two decades.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the national statement would facilitate a co-ordinated approach to help farmers take advantage of climate change opportunities and tackle challenges.

These include guidance in on-farm investments and projects.

“A climate-smart, sustainable agriculture sector will help make farming more productive and profitable, better protect our environment, increase access to international markets and strengthen our rural communities,” Mr Watt said.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt. Picture: Michaela Harlow

He said while many Australian farmers were already successfully incorporating sustainable practices “we want to see agricultural production continue to rise”.

It comes as Australia this week signed up to the “Climate Club” – an alliance of nations, including the US and UK, pushing for net-zero emissions and industry decarbonisation by 2050.

ABARES also recently reported that Australian agriculture was strongly hitting global sustainability indicators.

ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said, compared to nations with a similar profile, Australia farmers already “use less fertiliser, have better nutrient balances on their land and use more sustainable cropping practices”.

“Australia’s emission intensities are below the average for cereals, cattle and specialist beef production, compared to the major agricultural exporters,” he said.

The meeting of Australia’s Agriculture Ministers is being held in Perth.

The national statement, seen by The Weekly Times, states that “it marks a commitment” by all agriculture ministers to “provide leadership and work together” with our “climate-smart agricultural sector”.

“We will advocate for agriculture’s interests in the whole-of-economy transition to net zero,” it said.

While the statement also recognises the challenges facing local producers who work in “some of the most challenging conditions on earth”, it also stated that “we must transition faster” and in step with increasing changes in climatic conditions and extreme weather events.

“Changes in temperature and rainfall, severe drought, intense flooding, fires and disease outbreaks are impacting farm production and incomes,” the statement reads.

“The sector is responding: Australian producers are innovating, adapting, improving resilience and investing in the opportunities of a low-emissions future.”

Meanwhile, environmental credentials being demanded by international markets is intensifying, with Australian farmers fearing they will be forced to secure individual licences to trade with Europe, under the EU’s new deforestation laws.