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Horticulture and the Climate Challenge

Horticulture and the Climate Challenge. Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010 National Convention Centre, CANBERRA Tuesday 2 nd March 2010. The session. How the Australian horticulture industry is understanding and responding to climate change This session aims to:

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Horticulture and the Climate Challenge

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  1. Horticulture and the Climate Challenge Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010 National Convention Centre, CANBERRA Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  2. The session How the Australian horticulture industry is understanding and responding to climate change This session aims to: • Provide an overview of IMPACTS of climate change on horticulture • Horticulture information NEEDS analysis • Overview of the Horticulture Climate Change ACTION PLAN • ACHIEVEMENTS of climate activities to date • Conclusions and FUTURE climate research needs Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  3. FOOD FOR THOUGHT… By 2050, the global food industry will need to double global food output within an increasingly constrained environment - less resources (land, water, nutrients and oil) within a changing climate. [Julian Cribb, Science Writer, Feb 2010] Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  4. FOOD FOR THOUGHT… • Culture • Social license to farm – assumption that ag is bad • Quality + fresh + local + sustainable + ethical + carbon footprints = increasing market requirements • Environmental assurance • Potential for increased environmental regulation • Increasing resource competition • Profitability • Maintenance of access to resources • Return on adoption • Change after years of drought difficult • Climate change and Emissions Trading • Impacts of climate change – physical, economic and political implications • Accountability and measurement costs ($$$) 2. 1. Urgency – flexibility to respond to increasing Agricultural Risk Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  5. How is the Australian horticulture industry responding to this challenge? Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  6. HAL Environment Portfolio VISION: Position the Australian Horticulture industry as a good environmental steward Role of HAL - R&D Role of HAC - Policy NRM Strategy Information sharing/ collaboration Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  7. NATIONAL (PROGRAMS) • NPSI • Irrigation research • Water Initiative • Industry Water Position Paper • R&D Wish List • Steering Committee • Website • MDB Project • Climate change • - CCRSPI/MCVP • Action Plan • Recycled Water • Communication and extension • National Guidelines • Grower ‘Fit for Purpose’ Use Guide • Consumer factsheets Horticulture for Tomorrow • Envi Assurance • - Vision • EA Guidelines • Freshcare Green Code • CfoC • - Recognition framework • Impacts report • NRM • NRM Strategy • NRM Groups National Approach – Horticulture for Tomorrow www.horticulture.com.au/environment and www.horticulturefortomorrow.com.au Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  8. CLIMATE INFORMATION & NEEDS ANALYSIS Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  9. Understanding information needs Industry: • Need the facts about climate change – tailored/regional • Need to answer the Q: What does it mean to me? Researchers: • Urgency of information versus time to generate credible research outputs an issue • National Horticulture Research Network (NHRN) review Government: • Increasing Government interest and investment – especially in mitigation, adaptation and productivity • Minimise duplication of effort Rural R&D Policies and Government programs Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  10. Review of existing climate research relevant to horticulture (1) International activity (tip of the iceberg): • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – Fourth Assessment Report (2007) • Food Climate Research Network Domestic activity: • Australia’s Farming Future programs • Rural RDC R&D Priorities • National Agriculture and Climate Change Action Plan • Climate Adaptation Flagship (CSIRO) • National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) • Bureau of Meteorology – POAMA and WATL • National Carbon Accounting Toolbox Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  11. Review of existing climate research relevant to horticulture (2) Collaborative agricultural programs: • Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI)– six strategic themes • Understanding Future Climates • Managing Emissions • Preparing Industries • Accessing Information • Facilitating Change • Linking Decision Makers • Managing Climate Variability (MCV) Program – horticulture critical thresholds project with contributions from QLD DPI, HAL, Woolworths/Landcare and MCV • National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research • Research to inform policy – e.g. Australian Farm Institute & RIRDC • Links with supply chain – AFGC and Landcare/Woolworths Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  12. Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan 1. Adaptation - Resilient and Adaptive Horticultural Production Systems which are less vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. 2. Mitigation - Reduced GHG emissions from horticultural production systems. 3. Awareness, information and communication - Horticulture producers and their advisors having sufficient understanding of climate change and climate variability issues to be able to make appropriate risk management decisions. Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  13. Horticulture climate change research Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  14. Achievements to date (1) • Increasing interest in climate projects within past 24 months • 2007/08 - ~2% new investment (~$160,000) • 2008/09 - ~11% new investment (~$616,000) • 2009/10 - ~31% new investment (~$1.9m) • Funded projects with recommendations which have begun to help us understand Climate Change in a Horticulture context • Industries using impact assessments to inform strategic plans and annual investment plans • Growers are already maintaining current production in current locations – lessons being captured Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  15. National Inventory Report 2007 Agriculture – 88.1 MtCO2-e in 2007 (16.3% of total emissions) Horticulture – 0.916 MtCO2-e Achievements to date (2) Understanding our contribution • Horticulture accounted for an estimated 0.169% of Australia's national greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 Source: www.climatechange.gov.au Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  16. Future research needs 1. Adaptation • Downscaling climate change scenarios/vulnerability assessments of the major production regions • Opportunities in Australia or O/S as a result of climate change – new crops and/or new export opportunities?? • Better Manage Climate Variability • Further understand GHG emissions & ways to reduce it • BMP’s which are profitable, sustainable and reduce emissions • What are the practicalities and economics of carbon sequestration in soils and trees associated with horticultural production systems? 2. Mitigation 3. Awareness, information & communication • Scientifically based information useful for both growers and the community • Topic-specific information, e.g. biochar Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  17. WRAP UP AND FINAL COMMENTS Take away messages: • Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan is available • Industry ownership/empowerment: Need to continue to work with horticulture industries to consider their urgent climate priorities & ensure relevance of research outputs • Collaboration: Work with other agricultural industries to minimise duplication and share learnings • Adoption of world’s best practice: Provide tools to improve and measure on-farm efficiencies – demonstrate triple bottom line of adoption • Communication: Two-way information into climate programs is important –communicate the specific information needs of industry and use their experience to inform climate modelling • Promotion: Build on and promote achievements to date - ‘right to farm’ • Urgency: Climate science is not new, but the urgency of information is. Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

  18. THANK YOU. www.horticulture.com.au/climate Acknowledgements: • Peter Deuter, QLD DPI • Colin Creighton, MCV Program • Allison Clark, Houston’s Farm • David Putland & Rachel McKenzie, Growcom • Anthony Kachenko & Robert Prince, NGIA

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