Focused Funding to Educate Agricultural Industry on Minimizing Emissions
Under a new framework, standardised reporting will be implemented by farmers and producers to verify and manage their emissions accounting.
With Australia’s aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, new budget funding allocated to the agricultural sector aims to enhance the accounting of greenhouse gases and provide training for farmers in transitioning to sustainable practices.
The government has set aside $63.8 million to reduce emissions from the farming and agriculture industries under the Agriculture and Land Sector plan, following a previous investment of half a billion dollars in the Future Drought Fund.
This funding will also be utilized to educate farmers on emissions accounting, a framework that enables them to measure, manage, and report their greenhouse gas emissions.
Utilizing standardized methods to quantify emissions is crucial for identifying areas for reduction and ensuring transparency in sustainability efforts.
The announcement was made on May 23 by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Toowoomba.
Bowen emphasized the importance of accurate standardised emissions reporting in meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement.
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“Our government will work closely with the agriculture industry to guide us towards a net-zero future,” stated Bowen.
“Decarbonisation in the agriculture sector will create new opportunities for Australian farmers and landowners.”
He highlighted that the Agriculture and Land plan offers a path forward and will be instrumental in achieving broad emissions reduction targets across the economy.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt expressed that the agricultural sector stands to benefit significantly from reducing their emissions.
“Australian farmers are at the forefront of climate change, facing costs on a daily basis,” Watt said.
“We aim for producers to embrace the advantages of sustainability while maintaining productivity and profitability. Many farm businesses have already begun adapting their models to lower emissions.
“This funding will support continued innovation, enhanced training, long-term research, and on-ground action.
“While we are not setting a specific emissions reduction target for the agriculture industry, it is our responsibility as the government to assist the industry in contributing to the broader net zero target for the economy. This funding will facilitate that,” Watt added.
Breakdown of Funding Allocation
According to a joint ministerial release, $28.7 million over 10 years (including $900,000 annually from 2028-29) will be directed towards enhancing greenhouse gas accounting in the agriculture and land sector from the national level down to the individual farm level.
Building on the existing Carbon Farming Outreach Program, $30.8 million over four years spanning from 2024-25 to 2027-28 will expedite on-ground efforts to reduce agriculture and land emissions.
Furthermore, $4.4 million over 10 years will be assigned to The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to collaborate with the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre for conducting long-term research on emission reductions.
Reasons for Targeting Agriculture
The agricultural sector generated 16.8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020-21 mainly due to methane emissions from cattle and sheep.
This recent investment was spurred by industry feedback seeking solutions to reduce greenhouse gases across the sector without placing blame on or disrupting those responsible for producing the nation’s food.
The initial version of the Agriculture and Land Sector plan, issued as a discussion paper in 2023, gathered feedback from stakeholders such as farmers, producers, and industry organizations.
The consensus reached was that a substantial coordinated investment was necessary to enhance industry processes and resources related to emissions mitigation.
The Nationals were contacted for a response.
