1. Horticulture Across-Industry Climate/Carbon Forum The Grace Hotel, SYDNEY Wednesday 11 th March 2009

2. AGENDA Objective: Increase understanding and identify options for future investment in climate and carbon management across horticulture Timing: 1:00pm – Welcome and introductions (Alison) 1:10pm – CC policy landscape & CCRSPI (Owen) 2:00pm – MCVP (Colin) 2:30pm – Horticulture CC Action Plan (Peter) 3:00pm – Current and proposed CC projects (Alison) 3:10pm – BREAK 3:30pm – Communication on CC (Chris/Alison) 4:00pm – DISCUSSION 5:00pm – CLOSE

3. WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS Presenters: Owen Cameron – CCRSPI Program Manager, Land & Water Australia (LWA) Colin Creighton – Managing Climate Variability Program Manager, LWA Peter Deuter – Senior Principle Horticulturalist, Dept of Primary Industries & Fisheries Chris Rowley – Health Initiative Coordinator (Go for 2&5 Program) External Guests: Jackie Luethi – CCRSPI Program Officer, LWA David Putland – Climate Change Project Officer, Growcom Apology – Charles McElhone, NFF

4. CURRENT & PROPOSED CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH PROJECTS

5. OVERVIEW OF HORT CC RESEARCH HAL Environment Portfolio – start of climate change activity Vegetables scoping study (P Deuter - VG05051) CC Recommendations Paper to IACs in DEC 2006 Across-industry support for national project into responding to CC (P Deuter - AH06019) Co-funded by MCVP LOP $80,000 Increasing interest in climate projects within past 24 months 2007/08 - ~2% new investment 2008/09 - ~21% new investment… Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

6. CURRENT PROJECTS 2008/09 climate change projects Approx 10 projects in 2008/09 (21%): Horticulture component of CCRSPI (AH) Elevator statement (AH) Understanding and identifying the threats and opportunities posed by climate change (AH, BA) Energy efficiency in glasshouse horticulture Quantifying environmental credentials (AV, MU, TU) Carbon discussion papers and workshop (VG) Carbon footprinting (VG [Houston’s (VC) and now levy], NT, CF) VALUE: VC & LEVY LOP ~$1 million (VG $400k) Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

7. PROPOSED PROJECTS Industry Call for 2009/10 projects 13 new project proposals submitted (28%): Horticulture component of CCRSPI (HAL Corp) Desktop study into impacts of climate change and industries response (AP, AV, CY) Unpacking emissions trading (AP, AV) Soil carbon balance (vegetables) Understanding the carbon, climate and energy benefits of urban trees (NY) Carbon footprinting (TU, VG) and sequestration (TU) Emissions management (protected cropping), including ‘Practical solutions to the fertiliser cost shock’ (VG) VALUE: VC & LEVY LOP ~$2.5 million Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

8. COMUNICATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

9. Interrelated issues – availability of water can be impacted on by climate change and variability Media interest increasing Debate about environmental flows Government activity Worse case scenarios Increased competition for resources… = INFORMATION OVERLOAD! Current situation WATER CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

10. Current communication There is a lot of interest and activity in this area – at many different scales resulting in: Messages being diluted Increasing confusion about who is doing what Overlap in investment and resources Inconsistent terminology There is an urgent need for: relevant, tailored information for horticultural growers coordination of communication to reduce confusion and ensure understanding of the threats, opportunities and future activities Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

11. Response 2008/09 Activities: External Communication - PROMOTION: IMC acknowledged the need for promotion of the horticulture industry’s environmental credentials to consumers 1. Environment Communication Plan (AH07022) 2. DRAFT ‘elevator statement’ of horticulture’s carbon footprint developed and submitted to IMC for comment 3. DRAFT Consumer fact sheet that clarifies horticulture’s contribution and impacts from climate change developed and available for comment now Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

12. Response 2008/09 Activities: Internal Communication - AWARENESS: There is an urgent need to improve industry understanding of climate change/variability issues and responses (Horticulture CC Action Plan Strategy 3 and Growcom CC Strategy Priority) “What does CC mean to me and my business?” 1. IAC/industry conference presentations (AT) 2. DRAFT fact sheets (attachments to briefing papers) 3. Opportunity to update climate change website as part of overall HAL website update Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

13. Communication options/opportunities… Some highlighted options : Consumer fact sheet Horticulture specific fact sheets Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Climate change impacts Decision support tools Updated website content focused on both consumers & other stakeholders (external) and industry at all levels (internal) Industry workshops Peak industry body briefings Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008

14. THIS SESSION… Agree on urgent communication priorities to answer the questions already being asked by industry, such as: What direct impact will climate change have on my business? What can I do to prepare for climate change impacts? And when? What incentives and options are available? What is HAL/the PIB doing in response to the issue of climate change/variability? CHRIS ROWLEY TO FACILITATE Communication on Climate Change – IMC session, Sydney 11 th March 2008