Demonstration of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation On-farm and food Processor Projects

Mitigation and Adaptation in the Australian Dairy Industry (MAADI) - Dairy Australia (DA)

MAADI involves on-farm demonstration and validation of climate change mitigation and adaptation options, strategies, and technologies across the dairy supply chain. MAADI is producing a network of farm to processor demonstration sites, linked to regional reference groups and relevant industry climate change RD&E projects. The project also includes sites demonstrating technologies, and strategies, to mitigate heat stress including changes in feed and production systems; resilient farming systems through changes in production systems; and mitigation through techniques such as feed additives and waste management. 

MAADI includes two projects by:

• University of Melbourne - providing access to existing research activities as well as researcher capacity, measurement equipment and demonstration sites.
• Victoria Department of Primary Industry - providing access to existing research activities as well as researcher capacity, measurement equipment and demonstration sites.

On-farm demonstration of best practice options for climate change mitigation and adaptation for beef producers across northern Australia - Meat and Livestock Australia

This project is engaging beef producers through on-farm demonstrations across northern Australia and equipping them with the knowledge and tools to implement appropriate mitigation and adaptation practices. It is helping to overcome constraints to adoption related to the perceived complexity and riskiness of selecting and implementing new practices by working with producers.

This project is building on work under the Australia’s Farming Future Climate Change Research Program Round 1: Adaptation Research Program, Developing improved on-ground practices and industry strategies for adapting to climate change within beef production enterprises across northern Australia project, demonstrating on-farm how recommended practices are helping the north Australian beef industry reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their vulnerability to climate risks.

Methane Recovery and Use in Agriculture - Rural Industry Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)

Two projects are demonstrating technologies adapted to the Australian environment for the recovery and use of waste methane as a clean energy source in intensive livestock industries and associated food-processing sectors.

These projects are demonstrating on-farm and at plant methane recovery and use technologies, including covered anaerobic lagoons; biogas cleanup; waste water treatment anaerobic digesters; electricity generation and direct use of biogas for heating.

Demonstrating the minimisation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from food processing by-products by implementing best practice management of organic residues - Gelita Australia

This project is demonstrating the minimisation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from food processing by-products by implementing best practice management of organic residues. After establishing the current knowledge concerning green house gas (GHG) emissions during the aerobic and anaerobic processing and land application of organic residues in a literature review, GHG emissions from handling and managing food processing by-products will be determined in a series of research and demonstration trials.

Carbon and sustainability: A demonstration of how they relate and how they can be managed within the Australian Vegetable Industry - Horticulture Australia Limited

This project is increasing the ability of the vegetable industry to manage their emissions and improve their productivity by implementing emissions reductions techniques. It is demonstrating and communicating the business case for implementing emissions reduction techniques that also improve profitability, driving the uptake of these practices. This project is also allowing horticulture producers to supply produce that meets consumers growing demand for food that is grown in sustainable and low emissions production systems.

Drought-hardy and carbon-conscious grazing systems: the use of forage shrubs to exploit a changing and variable climate whilst reducing methane emissions from livestock - Future Farm Industry CRC

The use of perennial shrubs suited to Australia’s environment can boost whole-farm profit, achieve better management of natural resources and provide practical options to adapt to a changing climate as well as respond to pressures to reduce GHG emissions from livestock systems. This project is extending five years of intensive plot and laboratory investigations into paddock-scale demonstrations of the innovative use of forage shrubs in mixed farming systems. It is focusing on reducing the intensity of methane emissions from grazing livestock whilst improving the feed base in a changing climate, whole-farm profitability and natural resource management.