The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has joined forces with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Australian grain production.
Chair of the GRCD, John Woods (pictured) said an 18-month project with CSIRO would provide essential baseline data around the current level of emissions, opportunities for mitigation and would help to shape a realistic plan for emission reduction.
“This investment comes at a critical time for the industry, with intense global scrutiny on the links between greenhouse gases and climate change demanding a response across every sector of the economy,” Mr Woods said.
“It’s clear that future capital investment in the grains sector will be influenced by our ability to develop effective mitigation strategies and approaches to accountability,” he said.
“This new investment will help to facilitate grain growers’ access to working capital by aligning greenhouse gas emission practices to the increasingly rigorous requirements of finance institutions and other investors.”
He said the Australian grains industry must meet tougher sustainability requirements to access valuable international markets.
“This is about positioning growers to ensure they’re on the front foot and can clearly articulate what we’re doing as an industry to meet the demands of our consumers, markets, financiers and regulators,” Mr Woods said.
He said the collaboration with the CSIRO would also help to identify farming practices that could help to reduce emissions.
“It will develop a realistic trajectory towards reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of Australian grain production that can be achieved as part of a profitable grain growing business sector,” Mr Woods said.
He said the project would also support the work of the wider grains industry to develop a Grains Industry Sustainability Framework being led by Grain Growers Ltd.
