Horticulture and the Climate Challenge

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010

National Convention Centre, CANBERRA

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

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

FOOD FOR THOUGHT…

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

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]

2.

1.

• 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 ($$$)

Urgency – flexibility

to respond to

increasing Agricultur

al Risk

FOOD FOR THOUGHT…

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

How is the Australian horticulture industry responding to this challenge?

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

NATIONAL

INDUSTRY

CATCHMENT

PROPERTY

Role of HAL - R&D Role of HAC - Policy

Information sharing/ collaboration

NRM Strategy

VISION: Position the Australian Horticulture industry as a good environmental steward

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

HAL Environment Portfolio

National Approach – Horticulture for Tomorrow

NATIONAL (PROGRAMS)

NATIONAL (PROGRAMS)Water Initiative

-Industry Water Position Paper-R&D Wish List-Steering Committee-Website-MDB Project

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

NPSI

-Irrigation research

NRM

-NRM Strategy-NRM Groups

Climate change

- CCRSPI/MCVP-Action Plan

CfoC

- Recognition framework-Impacts report www.horticulture.com.au/

environmentand

www.horticulturefortomorrow.com.au

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

CLIMATE INFORMATION & NEEDS ANALYSIS

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

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)

reviewGovernment:• Increasing Government interest and investment –

especially in mitigation, adaptation and productivity• Minimise duplication of effort Rural R&D Policies and

Government programs

Understanding information needs

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

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

Review of existing climate research relevant to horticulture (1)

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Collaborative agricultural programs:• Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary

Industries (CCRSPI) – six strategic themes1. Understanding Future Climates 2. Managing Emissions 3. Preparing Industries4. Accessing Information 5. Facilitating Change 6. 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

Review of existing climate research relevant to horticulture (2)

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

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

Horticulture climate change research

HORTICULTURE CLIMATE PROJECTS

Identifying threats and opportunities

Unpacking emissions trading

Quantifying environmental credentials

Horticulture contribution to CCRSPI

Carbon, climate and energy benefits of urban trees

Critical temperature thresholds

Vegetables and Carbon - discussion papers and workshop

Carbon footprinting Best Management Practice reviews

Communication activities – briefings/discussion papers to industry committees, fact sheets and website.

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

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

Achievements to date (2)

Understanding our contribution• Horticulture accounted for an

estimated 0.169% of Australia's national greenhouse gas emissions in 2007

Agriculture – 88.1 MtCO2-e in 2007 (16.3% of total emissions)

Horticulture – 0.916 MtCO2-e

National Inventory Report 2007

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Source: www.climatechange.gov.au

1. Adaptation

2. Mitigation

3. Awareness, information & communication

Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2nd March 2010

•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?•Scientifically based information useful for both growers and the community•Topic-specific information, e.g. biochar

Future research needs

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

Acknowledgements:

• Peter Deuter, QLD DPI• Colin Creighton, MCV Program• Allison Clark, Houston’s Farm• David Putland & Rachel McKenzie, Growcom• Anthony Kachenko & Robert Prince, NGIA

THANK YOU.

www.horticulture.com.au/climate