industry facts
DESCRIPTION
Industry Facts. Over 2000 farming families Direct industry employment of 6,000 and indirect employment of over 13,000 $800 million industry - $500 million from value-added exports Paddock to plate industry Around 85% of Australia’s rice is exported Feeds up to 40 million people every day - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Delivering on a Vision for Agriculture – the Rice Industry Experience
Louise Adcock
Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia
Our Australian Rice IndustryGrowing Rice to Feed the World
Industry Facts
• Over 2000 farming families• Direct industry employment of 6,000 and indirect employment
of over 13,000• $800 million industry - $500 million from value-added exports• Paddock to plate industry• Around 85% of Australia’s rice is exported • Feeds up to 40 million people every day• Improved WUE by 60% in last 10 years • High level of commitment to Research & Development
Rice based systems
average farm = 500 ha high level of self regulation soil suitability 1/3 only of permitted area strict water use targets rice/wheat rotation 50% less water than world ave complementary system
• ‘working wetlands’, min. weeds
Environmental Programs
10 years ago• LWMP’s
• Rice Policy
• Landcare Groups
• Regional Programs
Development of Policy
• Australian Leader in Env. Improvement
• Key messages based on fact
• Flagship Programs
– Biodiversity & Greenhouse Strategy
Where are we now?
• $3 million funding
• Support from peak Green groups
• Image of industry improved
• Rice sits at the table
• Industry Coordination
Biodiversity Programs
Biodiversity Strategy and Plan (BS&P) for the rice industry
– Build the capacity of growers to provide a flexible approach = 17 practical actions
- A coordinated industry approach to biodiversity enhancement across the rice growing region
- Develop a model that is adaptable and transferable to other agricultural industries.
Greenhouse Program
Aims:
Identify & mitigate significant emissions points in rice based systems & processing operations
Achieve cost savings on farm (BMP guidelines) Develop an industry benchmark – greenhouse scorecard Develop innovative greenhouse gas solutions Industry & grower training
Farmer’s Futures…..
What are farmers biggest fears about their future?
Complex legislation, environmental issues Confusing messages Lack of ownership or understand benefits/risks Not recognised for NR management Perceptions No $ link to demonstrating env. performance Understanding of benefits of env. to production
system
= barriers to implementation
10 KEY MANAGEMENT PATHWAYS‘Sustainable risk areas which link on farm to catchment targets’
5 LEVELS: BUILDING CAPACITY OF GROWERS‘Builds grower knowledge & skills to achieve on-ground outcomes’
PARTICIPATION RECOGNITION EVIDENCE
Drivers:Community ExpectationsNRM ReformLWMP & CMB’sFarmers & Industry MotivationIndustry Leadership
Environmental Champions Program Structure
Collectively agreed upon
by all relevantregional
organisations
• Voluntary • Provides encouragement & support• Simplifies Complexities• Makes good business sense• Provides solutions for hurdles• Achieves Environment Outcomes (Legacy)• Achieves Business Outcomes ($)• Achieves Social Outcomes (communities)• Its flexible, practical & adaptable• Assists delivery of partner programs (60% of ECP is existing regional programs)• For all irrigated cropping systems
• Acknowledgment of management ~ current & future• Includes existing regional programs• Assists existing QA programs
• Demonstrates credible evidence of environmental improvement ~ Improves industry image ~ Informs NRM policies
Environmental Champions Program
Level 1: Basic Industry Standards
Level 2: Planning for Beyond Industry Standards
Level 3: Putting Plans into Action & Enhancing Biodiversity
Level 4: Trade, Innovation & Eco-Efficiencies
Level 5: Regional Efforts towards Catchment
Our Partners – working together
• Rice growers• Murrumbidgee Irrigation• Murray Irrigation• Coleambally Irrigation• DIPNR • Workcover• EPA• Landcare• NSW Agriculture• NPWS• Australian Greenhouse Office• DAFF• State Govt Support
• Conservation Volunteers• CMA – Murray & Murrumbidgee• Rice CRC• Environment Australia• CSIRO Land & Water• University of Canberra• Charles Sturt University• SMEC• DRNE (Vic)• EPA & Workcover (Vic)• Goulbourn Valley Water (Vic)• Australian Conservation
Foundation• World Wide Fund for Nature
Why Cluster Groups…..
• Business network groups – beyond ECP
• Promote landholders ‘working together’ – creates efficiencies
• A more effective way of utilising resources - harnessing solutions to hurdles etc & achieving outcomes
• Acts as a motivational tool
• Shares knowledge and ideas
Why cluster groups….
• Materials designed to assist them to assist themselves
• Creates ownership of program as they determine their own targets
• Contributes to the fabric of their local community by including their partners and their families.
• Positive & fun atmosphere
Current Status
Coleambally Murray Murrumbidgee TOTAL
Recognised
Level 1 Champions
2 12 16 30
Cluster Groups 4 13 7 24
Farm Businesses Involved
25 117 46 188
Level 1 participants 25 105 35 165
Level 2 participants 0 12 17 29
Prospective Groups 3 2 3 8
Lessons Learnt
• Be proactive• Recognise your industries issues• Turn visions into actions• Engaging people means communicating effectively• Create ownership on all levels – be inclusive, not
exclusive• Focus on the people, not the content!• Work with other commodity groups not against