Climate change adaption
Background:
The future of Australian dairy depends on its ability to adapt to climate variability, and carbon policy settings. By acting to support adaptation now, the opportunities associated with climate change can be identified and captured, and exposure to future risks to the industry can be reduced.
In 2009 the dairy industry completed a major program of work, Confidence to Grow (C2G). A key finding was that “Industry confidence in the future has been ‘dented’ by the climate change debate”. This project is re-building confidence by demonstrating practical, tangible activities available now. It is based around two key positive and confidence-building themes:
- Managing climate variability has always been a part of managing a farm
- Managing for on-farm efficiencies will increase profits and reduce global emissions
Funding comes from the Australian Government Climate Change Research Program.
Project objective:
To build a broad base of industry confidence and competency to accommodate the physical, economic and social challenges of climate change.
Project scope:
Activities for MAADI (Mitigation and Adaptation for the Australian Dairy Industry) include on-farm demonstration and validation of climate change mitigation and adaptation options, strategies, and technologies across the dairy supply chain.
Demonstration sites are selected and ‘managed’ by a Regional Reference Group in the 8 dairy regions to ensure that the sites are focused on issues that are locally relevant.
Outcomes/benefits:
Adapting to the impacts of climate change and variability is crucial to farm profitability and sustainability, and on-going efforts to reduce global emissions. Key outcomes from this project include:
- A dairy industry capable of responding to the future challenges and opportunities of climate change.
- Increased industry knowledge about the strategies, technologies and techniques available to adapt and adjust to climate change and emissions reduction policy.
- Integration of dairy climate change RD&E across a national network.
- Industry greenhouse gas emission benchmarks and reporting processes.
More information:
For more information, please contact Cathy Phelps, Dairy Australia Natural Resource Management Program Manager.