Extract from ABC News
The push to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Australia's food systems is an opportunity, not a threat, the national agriculture minister says.
Key points:
- The federal government is seeking ways to reduce farm emissions as part of its Net Zero 2050 plan
- Agriculture is one of six industry sectors in which carbon emissions must be reduced
- Farmers say decarbonisation can't come at the expense of food production
The government is calling for input on a plan to help the agriculture and land sectors cut emissions and contribute to the national Net Zero 2050 plan.
Decarbonisation plans will be developed for six sectors, including the electricity and energy, transport, and resources industries.
Agriculture contributes about 17 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions and will be the first sector the government reviews, as its share of greenhouse gas production is expected to increase as other industries more easily cut emissions.
Livestock such as cows and sheep are responsible for the majority of food system emissions, through the methane they burp into the atmosphere.
Methane is a short-lived but potent greenhouse gas — it is 28 times more powerful at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Australia failed to sign the global methane pledge launched in 2021, but last year the government committed to reducing methane emissions across all sectors by at least 30 per cent by 2030.
Industry groups like the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) say they are also committed to cutting emissions if the pathways are economically viable, benefit agricultural interests and avoid red tape.
NFF president David Jochinke said researchers were discovering how to use fertilisers more efficiently and improve grazing, and that knowledge needed to be delivered to farmers.
"We know that there's efficiencies that can be gained if we make some smart investments — for us, it's about really targeting and homing in on where we can make those wins," Mr Jochinke said.
Two years ago, New Zealand put a cap on how much nitrogen fertiliser farmers could use as part of its aims to reduce nitrous oxide emissions to net zero by 2050.
Nitrous oxide is another long-life greenhouse gas that largely comes from fertilisers used on pastures and crops.
Mr Jochinke said the agriculture industry was keen to see opportunities for improvement, rather than calls to reduce food production.
Farmers on the frontline
Increasingly, extreme weather events that threaten food production were being driven by climate change, according to Farmers for Climate Action chief executive Natalie Collard.
The organisation said farmers were key to climate solutions, but they wanted the federal government's agriculture plan to recognise the adaptation challenges farming businesses were facing.
"Many farmers are already making great progress in reducing emissions, whether they're using renewable energy, protecting landscapes like rivers and forests on their properties, or improving soil health and resilience," Ms Collard said.
"We hope the latest plan will build on this work, but agriculture is not the only sector that needs to make changes."
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt said farmers were on the frontline of climate change, and they needed to adapt to continue operating.
"Our international markets and domestic consumers are looking for their food to be even more sustainably produced into the future, and what we also know is climate change is having a real impact on farmers' incomes," Mr Watt told Victorian Country Hour.
"The average Aussie farmer has had a profit fall of about 23 per cent, or nearly $30,000 per farm, over the last 20 years because of changing conditions due to climate change."
He said low emissions fertilisers, feed supplements that reduced the gasses from livestock burps, and on-farm renewable energy were all being explored, along with nature credit schemes.
"That's what we want to make sure of, is that as we do move to a lower-emissions future [in which] we actually help farmers make more money, not less, and be more productive, not less," Mr Watt said.
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