Australian horticulture organisation Growcom has echoed concerns about the potential impacts of climate change on Australia which were published in the interim report of the Garnaut Climate Change Review last week.
Growcom’s chief advocate Mark Panitz said agriculture had been identified as a valuable sector of the Australian economy which was particularly vulnerable to climate change.
“Of all the agricultural industries, horticulture could be most seriously affected, due to horticultural crops’ sensitivity to temperature variations, the industry’s need for reliable irrigation water supplies and the lack of direct research into the issue in horticulture,” Panitz said.
Growcom held a climate change workshop this month, at which horticultural growers indicated they could adapt to climate change if they had accurate information and if government policies left enough scope for flexibility in farm management, including a diversity of opportunities to secure water supplies.
“Horticulture is a low carbon emission industry making a very minor contribution to global warming in comparison to industries such as grazing. However, growers are still keen to play their part in mitigation activities and look into any opportunities to benefit their operations through carbon trading,” Panitz said.
Growcom was among organisations representing Queensland’s intensive agricultural industries which met the state’s leading climate scientists this week to identify risks of climate change and key issues for industry. The workshop identified a number of priorities, including accessing funds to complete rigorous carbon footprints and detailed seasonal climate forecasting at regional scales to assist growers to manage an increasingly variable climate.
Panitz said Growcom urges government to fully consult with horticulture in developing climate change policies to ensure unfair burdens were not placed on growers.
“A flexible regulatory framework for the agricultural sector must be developed,” he said.
“Government policy risk is nearly as much a concern as climate change risk.
“The government must avoid blanket policy settings but instead design policies that take account of the enormous differences in the emissions and climate management opportunities within the industries that make up the agriculture sector.
“Adaptation and mitigation to climate change must be considered together to avoid unintended consequences from poorly thought through adaptation strategies.
“Government also needs to seriously consider the need for long term food security in Australia, especially in the light of rapidly increasing demand for food and biofuels globally.”
The Garnaut Climate Change Review was commissioned by Australia’s state and territory governments in April last year and has been endorsed by prime minister Kevin Rudd. Growcom was among organisations which has made submissions to the enquiry, on behalf of horticulture.
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