Project Information
This projects involve the development, trialling, adoption and roll-out of climate-smart, sustainable, innovative tools and on-ground farm practices that increase the agriculture sector’s productivity and profitability. The consortium is led by University of Western Australia who are partnered with University Adelaide, LaTrobe University (LTU), University of Queensland (UQ), and Regional Development Departments (DPIRD, SARDI) and Scolexia consultancy (SC). Spanning across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, each member brings robust experience in agricultural and environmental research and extension crucial for advancing Australia's livestock industries. This project aims to work collaboratively utilising the combined skills and experience of the consortium to enhance Australian pasture systems productivity and profitability while mitigating climate change impacts through improved emission controls, carbon sequestration, and soil health and building resilience to the impacts of climate change on farming systems.
This project is subdivided into 10 activities and will use a dual strategy approach of pasture diversification and utilisation of novel organic amendments, to enhance soil health, soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve climate resilience in Australian pasture systems. Challenges to adoption of organic amendments is transportation, trials with multi species pasture (perennial and annual legumes and grasses) will develop and extend climate smart technologies including slow release coated fertilisers, granulated/pelletised compost and mobile solid separation. These innovative technologies and practices will increased productivity and profitability via improved forage quality, drought resilience, and carbon sequestration. An extension program will provide decision support tools and communication channels, such as an organic calculator and a farm composting website, to facilitate widespread adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, ensuring the protection of soil and water and minimising environmental impacts.
Program objectives
The agriculture sector is adopting practices to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.
The agriculture sector is supported to harness carbon and biodiversity incentives and implement industry sustainability frameworks.
Farmers are supported to drive agricultural growth, while adopting sustainable natural resource management practices that protect and conserve natural capital and biodiversity.
Program outcomes
Outcome 1
By 2028 Partnerships and Innovations grants will have increased the number and area of Australia’s agriculture sector entities and land managers that have trialled, developed and/or implemented innovative technologies, tools or practices to improve the uptake and use of sustainable agricultural practices leading to the protection and enhancement of our soil, water and vegetation resources.
Outcome 2
By 2028 Partnerships and Innovations grants will have increased the number and area of Australia’s agriculture sector entities and land managers that have adopted practices which have or will build resilience to the impacts of climate change, increase carbon sequestration, and/or reduce emissions on farming systems.
Outcome 3
By 2028 Partnerships and Innovations grants will have supported the operationalisation and uptake of industry sustainability frameworks and credentials and will have increased the number of sustainable agricultural practices that meet evolving market access requirements.