Final Report Summary
The scope & method
Australia is facing continuing climate change (IPCC 2007). The Agriculture and Food Policy Reference Group (2006) considers that without adequate preparation, climate change could have serious implications for sustainable agriculture and rural communities in Australia.
This SRDC-funded scoping study has been undertaken to provide a preliminary analysis of the impacts of climate change on the east coast sugar producing regions of Australia, the knowledge needs and the adaptation options available to the sugarcane industry. The study was conducted in a consultative manner with sugar industry stakeholders representing all sectors of the industry attending workshops held in Maryborough and Brisbane during the period January to February 2007.
Adaptation & flexibility
The vulnerability of the sugarcane industry to a change in climate will be reduced by increasing adaptation capacity. This involves actions and research to reduce the negative impacts of climate change, to skill up decision makers in all sectors of the industry to respond rapidly to an increasingly variable climate and to capitalise on the various opportunities that come with change.
Report details
For the sugarcane industry along the east coast of Australia the report details:
- Projections of climate change for the sugarcane industry regions:
- The adaptation opportunities for the Maryborough case study region and for the entire industry; and
- A summary of R&D opportunities framed within the SRDC investment arenas.
Key R&D directions
Many of the knowledge gaps detailed in this report can be best filled through the enhancement of existing R&D activity. For example, research into plant agronomy and plant genetics already incorporates many of the key attributes of climate, albeit with increased emphasis on climate related attributes called for as part of the response to a changing climate. Likewise, research on sustainability of on-farm practices is already addressing issues regarding off-farm pollutant and enrichment. A more variable and event-driven climate will make this research even more imperative if the sugarcane industry is to respond to community demands and demonstrate resilience.
Other knowledge gaps are specific to climate change and increasing climate variability, such as providing decision tools to foster more flexible and climate responsive practices across the value chain. As with any major R&D investments, prior to embarking on substantial revision or changes to SRDC investment directions such opportunities will require detailed scoping as a precursor to any major R&D investment.
Additional knowledge gaps will undoubtedly come to light as the sugarcane industry responds to Australia’s changing climate. Australian agriculture and its science support are world renown for innovation. Part of the challenge for sugarcane R&D investment will be to be open to such innovation, wherever it might come from, and to combine with others to maximise the return on investment from research. Working in partnership with other investors will often be cost-effective – for example, to better understand the Northern Australian climate, the implications of threats such as the impact of sea level rise and to improve the skill in seasonal forecasting.
Last but not least, there is much to be done to improve overall industry knowledge of climate change and facilitate how individuals, enterprises and companies across the value chain incorporate climate into their mainstream activities. Building social capital through targeted extension, improving skills and providing a more industry wide knowledge base are all essential.
By cultivating an industry knowledge base, the Australian sugarcane industry can rapidly respond to a changing climate. Within this, is key need to review existing industry information systems and institutional silos. There is a strongly emerging need to bring together the various productivity services and GIS data sets in ways that will allow the entire industry to collectively position its future in both a productivity and sustainability context.
Adaptive research
Global investment in climate science will bring marked improvements in our understanding of the global climate, seasonal forecasting and climate change within the next 3 to 5 years. R&D strategies cannot by nature be complete and must have a limited time frame of relevance – in the case of the majority of material in this report, probably less than 5 years. At the same time, maintaining a close understanding of developments in climate science and ensuring strong international links will be essential for the sugarcane industry in implementing strategic responses to a changing climate.
The Final Report will be available as an SRDC Technical Report in November 2007. You can request a copy of the report. A copy of the report will be posted to you as soon as it is available. |