AGRICULTURE
Adaptation is protecting agricultural land, managing risks, profitability, resilience and opportunities in a changing climate
The agricultural sector is already making a major contribution to the Region’s efforts to adapt to a changing climate. It is increasingly science-driven and sophisticated in its responses to changing environmental and economic circumstances. With government and community support and with clear strategic coordination, this contribution will continue to grow.
| Adaptation plans and actions already underway | Lead agency |
Assessing impacts of extreme temperatures on wheat crops in north western Victoria | Monash University |
Grains Research and Development Corporation | |
| Smart Farms Initiative | Multi agency approach |
State government with research partners | |
Agriculture Victoria | |
Biochar trials | |
Birchip Cropping Group | |
Public-private partnerships | |
Australian Government funded regenerative agriculture programs | Catchment management authorities |
| Soil Moisture Network | Wimmera Catchment Management Authority |
| Grampians Regional Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions (R2Z) | Grampians New Energy Taskforce |
Leading opportunities
- Optimising soil functionality by maintaining or increasing soil carbon levels.
- Conserving soil moisture by maintaining ground cover in pasture and cropping systems.
- Embracing new technology.
- Sharing agricultural adaptation knowledge eg lessons from the WA wheat belt.
- Reversing population trends by providing employment opportunities for rural youth.
- Insurance incentives for sustainable agriculture.
- Farm diversification including biochar, bio-fuels, agritourism and niche industries.
- Intensification and water efficient food production systems eg horticulture.
- Opportunities for pipeline/reuse water eg west Grampians pipeline.
- Financial incentives to encourage ‘mosaic’ and other farm practice change as outlined in R2Z.
- Commodity price rises due to climate change will help provide capital for agricultural adaptation.
Main barriers
- Market disincentives to adaptation
- Regulatory and policy frameworks that discourage innovation and lack of stimulus that can be relied on for long-term change and commercial investment.
- Road and rail freight distances and cost.
- Lack of practical and proven models for agriculture under climate change.
- Lack of development of a bio-economy to provide a market for agricultural biomass.
- Lack of experienced consultants, contractors, and suppliers/installers of advanced systems.
- Lack of financial stimulus for carbon sequestration.
- Lack of bipartisan policy at state and federal level.
- Water utilities have limited capacity and permission to invest in climate adaptation except where externally funded.
Dr Robert Faggian from Deakin Centre for Rural and Regional Futures
Angela Clough from Agriculture Victoria
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the First Nations Peoples of the land and waters that we live, care and work upon within the Grampians Region. We respect the continuous culture that has been embedded into history for thousands of years. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
