A new $39 million initiative is set to shape the future of sustainable farming by providing Australian grain growers with practical solutions to lower on-farm emissions intensity.
An initiative of Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), a five-year national Low Emissions Intensity Farming Systems (LEIFS) initiative is set to explore and demonstrate the benefits of monitoring, managing and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) accounts at the farm scale.
It will also offer grain growers practical options to manage emissions risks and identify which GHG markets and sustainability credentialing schemes align with their enterprise goals.
The project will be delivered by project partners CSIRO, in collaboration with the South Australian Research and Development Institute, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
GRDC board chairperson and South Australian grain grower Sharon Starick said the initiative highlighted the forward-thinking and progressive approach of Australian agriculture.
She described the grains industry as a leader in using scientifically validated approaches to understand and manage environmental issues.
“This new initiative takes a long-term progressive approach to support Australian grain growers to understand what on-farm practices influence GHG emissions.”
Mrs Starick said the initiative had been developed to help grain growers respond to increasing pressure to monitor, manage and report GHG emissions intensity, to meet trade, finance and consumer expectations.
This would allow them to identify and capture productivity and profitability opportunities.
“The Australian grains industry is recognised globally for producing low emission grain. To ensure we remain competitive in international markets and contribute to reducing the agriculture sector’s GHG emissions, the industry requires a science-based approach to monitoring, managing and reporting emissions,” she said.
“Within Australia, agriculture currently accounts for 17 per cent of emissions, reducing these is critical for mitigating future climate risks, maintaining global competitiveness, meeting community expectations and maintaining critical social licence.
“By providing reliable regional evidence on on-farm emissions and mitigation benefits, the initiative will build growers’ confidence in monitoring and managing GHG accounts and support baselining activities through peer-learning networks.”
GRDC managing director Nigel Hart said LEIFS was the cornerstone of the organisation’s Sustainability Initiative.
“We have invested significantly in this critical area because we understand how important it is for Australian grain growers and their long-term productivity, profitability and sustainability,” he said.
“Ultimately the goal through the LEIFS initiative is for 80 per cent of Australian grain production to be actively accounting GHG emissions for improved business performance and market access.”
CSIRO principal research scientist Lynne Macdonald will be the lead researcher for the program office that will oversee LEIFS.
Dr Macdonald said the priority was to support growers to make informed, emissions-conscious decisions that align with their enterprise goals.
“This includes supporting the use of accounting tools, improving understanding of benefits and trade-offs between productivity, profit and emissions, and establishing robust and trusted regional benchmarks,” Dr Macdonald said.
“Importantly, LIEFS is based on participatory approaches, with ambitious goals to improve grower, service provider and government access to consistent data and knowledge.
“Together, we can drive progress through clarity, credibility and collaboration.”
LEIFS will build on findings of a new GRDC research report – undertaken by CSIRO – that provides critical updated data for the GHG baseline for Australian grain growers, which is anticipated to be made available soon.
