Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Cattle Australia (CA) is urging the Federal Government to take a balanced approach when deciding how Australia will tackle climate change in the future.
In its submission to government on the proposed Agriculture and Land Sectoral Plan, CA highlighted the crucial role beef producers already play in this space, and welcomed the opportunity to provide strategic comment on the plan that will guide Australia’s 2050 net zero ambition.
CA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chris Parker, said as custodians of almost 80 per cent of Australia’s agricultural land – representing over 50 per cent of Australia’s total landmass – grass-fed beef producers are an integral part of the solution to the changes in climate.
“The Australian beef industry has made a leading contribution to combat further global warming and with the right support in coming years, will achieve the state of climate neutral, meaning no additional impact on global temperature rise (global warming),” Dr Parker said.
“To ensure a profitable and resilient future for the beef industry, CA supports an industry-driven pathway, with support from government to enable producers to access the advice, technology, innovations and incentives they need to minimise the negative and optimise the positive impacts of beef production on the climate, while maintaining healthy landscapes and profitable, resilient businesses.
“CA supports a balanced approach that acknowledges the role our producers play in global and regional food security in managing our Australian landscapes, the cyclical nature of biogenic methane, and consequences of future planning on the social and economic prosperity of the rural and remote communities in which our farmers and their families live and work.”
In July 2023, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) released an international comparisons report on sustainability and agri-environmental indicators.
A key finding was that even with CO2e accounting methodology, Australia’s emissions intensities are below average for cattle when compared to other major developed country producers and exporters.
Additionally, Australia has reduced agricultural emissions more than most other developed countries in the past 30 years.
“More than any other sector, the beef industry has taken the lead and made significant investment in research, development and adoption to minimise the negative impacts on the climate,” Dr Parker said.
“There is still so much potential and a real opportunity for government, in partnership with industry, to further drive the positive impact of Australian beef production on the climate, while considering the importance of food security, nutritional security and the societal role of meat.”
Read Cattle Australia’s full submission.
ENDS
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Hayley Kennedy
hayley.kennedy@bluehillpr.com.au
0488 021 154
Stacey Wordsworth
stacey.wordsworth@bluehillpr.com.au
0438 394 371
