A new $4.9 million partnership between government and industry has commenced to assist grain growers in adapting to climate change via the National Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative (NAMI).
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NAMI is funded through a joint initiative between the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
The funding was provided as part of the Australian Government's Climate Change Research Program (CCRP) which is a key component of the Australia’s Farming Future (AFF) initiative. Together the four projects will demonstrate and build on research outcomes from the initial round of Australia’s Farming Future (AFF) funding.
The project will be implemented in the northern grains region through a project led by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI).
DEEDI leads a northern region collaboration between the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, University of New England (UNE), Armidale and NSW Industry and Innovation (NSWI&I), Tamworth.
Dr David Lawrence, DEEDI Agri-Science Queensland principal extension officer
said the two-year project aimed to raise grower and advisor awareness of the viability of adaptation strategies and practices in the face of a changing and variable climate.
“The northern component of NAMI will be working with growers to assess on-farm strategies to adapt to a changing climate and identify improved practices that they can implement on their own farms,” Dr Lawrence said.
“The project will also contribute to broader scientific understanding of potential sequestration and emission reductions from both current and proposed practices in mixed farming systems on the clay soils of Queensland and northern NSW.
“Nitrous oxide is a key greenhouse gas to consider, so we will be looking at the role of new slow-release nitrogen fertilisers in field conditions and the effect of using legumes for nitrogen without applying fertiliser.”
The Australia-wide partnership also involves the Birchip Cropping Group (BCG), the Department of Primary Industries Victoria (DPIVic) and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA).
The NAMI will work with growers in adapting to any likely climate changes via multiple demonstration sites across Australia, including on the Darling Downs.
GRDC managing director Peter Reading said the NAMI would play an important role in equipping primary producers with tools to adapt and adjust to the impact of climate change and to manage their emissions through grower-driven demonstration sites.
“Adaptation to climate change and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions has been identified as a key driver for change in the grains industry to 2012 and beyond,” Mr Reading said.
“In particular, Australia’s grains industry is projected to be significantly affected by climate change and climate change-related policy decisions.
“The potential introduction of emissions trading to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will require the application of new knowledge to ensure a reduction of emissions, while also ensuring ongoing increases in farm efficiency and productivity.”
Mr Reading said the initiative would build on strong links with existing DAFF and GRDC climate change research in the fields of nitrous oxide emissions reduction, soil carbon and climate change adaptation and mitigation projects.
“This initiative will facilitate more effective extension and demonstration of research outcomes to farmers,” he said.
“Close collaboration between stakeholders and well integrated programs are critical to the success of NAMI.”
Mr Reading said NAMI’s objectives were consistent with GRDC’s strategic aims relating to climate change under its ‘Environmental Plan for the Australian Grains Industry’.
“This plan is developing innovative solutions to climate change which are profitable, productive and sustainable,” he said.
