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: 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 2 nd March 2010

FOOD FOR THOUGHT… Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd 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 Agricultural Risk FOOD FOR THOUGHT… Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd March 2010

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

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 2 nd March 2010 HAL Environment Portfolio

National Approach – Horticulture for Tomorrow 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 and Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd March 2010

CLIMATE INFORMATION & NEEDS ANALYSIS Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd 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) review Government: 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 2 nd 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 2 nd March 2010

Collaborative agricultural programs: Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI) – six strategic themes 1. Understanding Future Climates 2. Managing Emissions 3. Preparing Industries 4. 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 2 nd 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 2 nd March 2010

Horticulture climate change research Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd 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 2 nd 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 MtCO 2 -e in 2007 (16.3% of total emissions) Horticulture – MtCO 2 -e National Inventory Report 2007 Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd March 2010 Source:

1. Adaptation 2. Mitigation 3. Awareness, information & communication Horticulture Session – OUTLOOK 2010, Canberra - Tuesday 2 nd 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 2 nd 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.