Elsewhere on DAFF
2. The EMS Implementation Plan
2.1 Introduction
The adoption of formal EMS in agriculture, and other environmental assurance schemes are relatively new but there is no doubt that markets, building on existing demands for quality and safety assured agricultural products are also driving a growing demand for environmental assurance. To guide and ensure a nationally consistent approach to the development of EMS and related assurance schemes, Australia's National Framework for EMS in Agriculture was developed by governments with significant input from industry and the community through public consultation, targeted workshops and the involvement of the national industry/community EMS Steering Committee (EMS SC).
The NRM Ministerial Council endorsed the National Framework in October 2002. The National Framework provides a set of principles that describe the broad parameters needed to achieve consistency and acceptance of EMS across the agricultural sector. It also describes the relationships and roles of the range of participants in environmental management in agriculture — including landholders, industry groups, community groups, and governments at the local, state and national scale. Importantly, the Framework emphasises that the adoption of an EMS by a business is voluntary and that the roles of government and industry groups are to facilitate the provision of information and assistance.
In response to industry calls that the current momentum on EMS should not be lost, the NRM Ministerial Council established an Australian Government/State EMS Implementation Working Group to develop a five-year EMS Implementation Plan to implement the roles of government proposed in the National Framework.
2.2 Aim of the EMS Implementation Plan
The aim of the Implementation Plan is to provide direction for Governments in supporting the voluntary adoption of EMS by producers across different industries as a mechanism to improve production and business systems, and to encourage improved management of agriculture¡¯s environmental impacts by landholders.
The Plan maps government involvement in EMS over the next five years, especially how suitable partnerships will be developed between industry, governments and the community to implement Australia's National Framework for EMS in Agriculture.
2.3 About this Plan
The EMS Implementation Plan demonstrates the commitment of the NRM Ministerial Council to supporting EMS development in agriculture and to creating productive partnerships with industry and community groups to take EMS forward. It is not intended that the proposed government action be undertaken in isolation or without the support and/or input of industry and/or community sectors.
The EMS Implementation Plan sets out specific actions that individual governments are prepared to undertake in partnership with industry and community across four broad areas, as outlined in the Framework:
- Education and information;
- Coordination and facilitation;
- Environmental policy; and
- Research and development
The activities and initiatives that State/Australian Government agencies have agreed to undertake to promote the principles of the National Framework and to support the adoption of EMS in agricultural sectors have been prepared in table format (Table 3). The table is arranged in two parts:
- The first part sets out national level actions that State/Australian Government¹ agencies will jointly undertake, or which have a national focus and require national coordination and consistency;
- The second part sets out complementary actions that individual state agencies are already involved in or are proposing to undertake. These "complementary" activities will build on the national-level actions.
By defining roles and responsibilities across a range of industries and spatial scales, the National Framework provides a context for coordinating and facilitating the wide range of voluntary, industry-led approaches to environmental and quality management in agriculture and helps to improve integration of these activities across the board. The Framework is relevant to all landholders interested in improving their environmental management, regardless of their current level of engagement with environmental management issues, or whether they are implementing an EMS or already have one in place. As a result, some national and complementary actions will have an application beyond EMS in agriculture, and will form part of a broader NRM framework. Where this is the case, the focus of the actions listed in the table is on supporting EMS outcomes.
2.4 Key Government Actions
The aim of the Plan is to support and facilitate industry and community engagement and ownership of EMS development so that both groups can lead EMS activities into the future. Key actions for governments under the Plan intended to build this capacity include:
- development of mechanisms to translate information at the catchment/ landscape and regional scale into a form suitable for producers requiring environmental and natural resource information at the property scale;
- development of tools to facilitate the incorporation of a range of complementary business management processes eg Property Management Planning, Quality Assurance, Best Management Practice, into a single management system;
- support for the establishment of a single audit process for the various QA, Food Safety, etc systems to eliminate the potential for duplicated requirements.
- evaluate and scope training and accreditation schemes for professionals in the agricultural sector and the capacity to assist the preparation of EMS and to conduct performance verification and integrated system audits;
- government agencies leading by example by sharing tools and information to encourage implementation of EMS on government properties and operations;
- development of an information brokerage function which links producers and advisors with emerging information from R&D organisations/ researchers and conversely informs R&D funders/ research organisations/ researchers of emerging issues which require further research;
- realising the potential of existing initiatives to support individuals in the preparation of their EMS. For example, by encouraging regional bodies to recognise the potential value of on-farm EMS in the achievement of regional standards and targets. Information and encouragement could be provided to ensure Plans and Investment Strategies support the adoption of on-farm EMS that account for regional NRM priorities. This also includes the many existing industry initiatives involving best management practices, Codes of Practice and Quality Assurance schemes.
2.5 Role of Industry Bodies under the Plan
As coordinating organisations for agricultural sectors, industry organisations have a prime opportunity to provide cost-effective and practical resources and support to producers. Support may include training in environmental management, development of sectoral best-management-practice guidelines and codes-of-practice; liaison with catchment and regional management bodies; information on latest technology; market intelligence etc. Industry therefore has a strong and varied role to play in leading and encouraging the adoption of EMS including:
- developing and providing Codes of Practice based on best scientific information and best practice, but which can accommodate regional differences;
- encouraging and supporting members in developing an appropriate approach to EMS, including building capacity through training and information and support networks;
- coordinating with other industry sectors to ensure a consistent approach to the development and adoption of EMS in agriculture;
- providing timely information to members;
- ensuring members have access to useable industry-specific data and information;
- facilitating integration of QA and EMS; and
- negotiating with financial institutions concessional loan financing based on lower risk assessment with EMS/PMP.
There are ranges of industry organisations within the agricultural sector from farmer organisations, supplier groups, through to processing and marketing bodies. While each of these organisations may have a role to play in each of the activities listed above, some will have a stronger role to play in particular areas. For instance, farmer organisations can encourage their members to take up industry codes of practice, best management practices or other assurance schemes as stepping-stones to entry into an EMS. They should also have an awareness of regional differences and work towards establishing links with other industry sectors and promote an integrated approach to their members. Supplier groups, whether supplying products or services, can promote product stewardship and environmental management considerations as part of their advisory services. Marketing arms of industry organisations have a role in passing back market signals to both individual producers and farm organisations, and where appropriate, promote EMS as a marketing tool.
Industry research and development corporations (RDCs) also have a clear role under the Implementation Plan. The National Framework outlined roles for industry RDCs in promoting the need for collaborative EMS-related research — in particular identifying areas for cooperation in achieving outcomes that derive public benefit:
- environmental information needs and how these can best be interpreted and delivered on the ground
- identifying and developing relevant BMP guidelines and COP for environmental management in agriculture; and
- better coordinating research efforts within and between sectors.
2.6 Partnerships under the Plan
As noted above, the development of partnerships is fundamental to the implementation of the Plan and to the development and adoption of EMS into the future. The partnerships and communication channels established through the Plan can help to ensure that EMS development and implementation is industry and community led and does not result in the establishment of a variety of incompatible EMS schemes. Effective partnerships rely on capacity building within, and relationship building between government agencies and industry and community groups. Few landholders are single commodity producers.
Active partnerships between industry, producers and government under the Plan will ensure that there is a capacity within the community, industry and at primary producer level to make informed choices about the best natural resource management and assurance system for their industry or enterprise. Partnerships can also:
- ensure the integrity and credibility of EMS approaches;
- facilitate a consistent approach to EMS development and implementation;
- ensure that EMS initiatives are internationally credible and support industry in maintaining, or even gaining, market access;
- ensure the integration of environmental management with existing programs such as QA or property management planning;
- support streamlining of and facilitate industry-managed auditing and certification processes to ensure the process is affordable and credible; and
- facilitate group-based approaches to EMS development to enable cost sharing of quality and environmental assurance auditing.
Agri-industry sectors need to work together and with the supply chain to ensure that landholder efforts meet market demands and that these efforts are rewarded.
2.7 Risk Assessment
In assessing the risks to the successful implementation of the National Framework for EMS in Agriculture, Governments should ensure:
- the voluntary nature of the adoption of EMS is upheld and that EMS does not become a legislative requirement;
- the development of mechanisms to ensure that complementary programs are consistent with or support an EMS approach to avoid duplication of input requirements and assessment processes;
- on-going access to current information on international environmental requirements;
- maintenance of industry awareness of potential market access requirements for products with environmental or sustainable certification;
- evaluation and promotion of productivity and environmental benefits from the adoption of EMS;
- regional NRM bodies identify regional natural resource condition targets and indicators and provide information in a way that can be utilised in the development of property-level EMS; and
- best practice EMS cases are recognised and promoted.
The following risks to the effective development and uptake of EMS have been identified along with potential associated consequences should the risk/s eventuate: The following outlines the risks, consequences, and actions under the Plan to address them.
|
Identified Risks |
EMS ImplementationPlan Actions that address the risk |
|---|---|
|
1) Inability to develop agreement on mechanisms to include the information, reporting and audit requirements for the range of complementary tools (e.g. QA, PMP, EMS) all with similar input requirements:
|
2.1; 8.1; 8.3; 8.4 |
|
2) National and consistent approach to EMS not achieved:
|
1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 3.2; 6.1; 6.2;8.1 |
|
3) EMS is seen as ‘too hard’ and not worth the effort:
|
1.1; 1.4; 3.1; 3.2; 3.3; 4.1;5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 6.2 |
|
4) No market signals which indicate preference for sustainable produce:
|
1.1; 4.1; 4.2; 11.1; 11.2 |
|
5) EMS Pilots do not demonstrate productivity and sustainability benefits:
|
4.1; 6.2 |
|
6) In-appropriate regional and locally relevant natural resource condition targets adn indicators established:
|
1.1; 2.1; 5.1; 5.2 |
|
7) Information sources not available at relevant scales:
|
1.1; 2.1; 2.3; 5.1; 5.2
|
|
8) Producers do not become aware of the process and/or potential benefits of EMS
|
1.1; 4.1
|
|
9) Sectoral interests (e.g. irrigation, farm chemical, waste management) take a strong stand to protect their perceived interests:
|
2.2; 2.3; 4.1
|
|
10) The high cost of ISO accredited auditors is seen as an impediment to adoption:
|
8.2; 8.3
|
2.8 Monitoring and Evaluation of the EMS Implementation Plan
The EMS Implementation Plan consists of key commitments made by jurisdictions and in some cases, particular agricultural sectors in supporting and encouraging EMS and other initiatives aimed at sustainable agriculture. Timelines are proposed for these actions and responsible agencies will report on their progress in delivering on these actions.
Reports will be provided to the NRM Ministerial Council annually following the adoption of the EMS Implementation Plan. This annual report will consider the consistency of jurisdictional activities to ensure common approaches to EMS are being adopted across jurisdictions. The report will also consider potential improvements in the Plan in accordance with the continual improvement cycle embodied in the EMS Process.
A public report will be made available at the end of two years advising on progress on implementing the National Framework and the Implementation Plan. In addition, the EMS Incentives Program and the EMS National Pilot Program will be evaluated in terms of the capacity of EMS to deliver positive productivity/ business and natural resource management outcomes. There will also be a review of the National Framework and EMS Implementation Plan in five years time.
The public report will be based on a survey of key stakeholders and a national workshop, possibly held in conjunction with the 4th National EMS in Agriculture Conference.
|
Milestone |
Description |
Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Annual Report No. 1 |
Provided to NRM Ministerial Council |
October 2004 |
|
Public Report |
Progress in implementing the National Framework |
October 2005 |
|
Annual Report No. 2 |
Provided to NRM Ministerial Council |
October 2005 |
|
Annual Report No. 3 |
Provided to NRM Ministerial Council |
October 2006 |
|
Annual Report No. 4 |
Provided to NRM Ministerial Council |
October 2007 |
|
Final Review |
Of National Framework and EMS Implementation Plan – Provided to NRM Ministerial Council |
October 2008 |
2.9 Industry/community EMS Steering Committee
The industry/community EMS Steering Committee (EMS SC) was established by Senator Judith Troeth, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in June 2002. In addition to reporting to Senator Troeth on EMS issues, the EMS SC has worked alongside governments in developing the Plan and in advising on the appropriate partnership models and approaches. The EMS SC have also consulted more widely on the Plan and in June 2003 circulated a draft Plan for consultation with stakeholders, seeking advice and views from a range of industry organisations.
The EMS SC also prepared an internal discussion paper as part of its deliberative process and as the basis for consultation with agricultural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs). This paper is included at Attachment B and has been used to ensure that the Implementation Plan responds to industry and community priority issues.
The EMS SC identified that Australian primary industry sectors and producers are increasingly focused on natural resource management and sustainability issues arising from a combination of market requirements, legislative obligations and community expectations. In response, industries have already established, or are establishing, approaches to EMS, Codes of Practice, BMP guidelines, and other programs. It was recognised that industry groups can encourage individual operators to comply with these codes and programs to ensure continued access to natural resources, food safety and environmental protection. In fact, some industry organisations or supply chains require members to adopt BMPs or be certified to an industry standard as a condition of membership, or access to markets.
The EMS SC also recognized potential roles for industry RDCs to help identify relevant environmental issues to be dealt with in industry specific EMS (such as biodiversity and greenhouse emissions). In this regard the EMS SC Chair made a presentation on the EMS SC discussion paper to the Chairs and Executive Directors of the RDCs. The Implementation Plan recognises the role of the RDCs in EMS.
Table 3: Government actions & partnerships for implementing the National Framework for EMS in Agriculture
1. Education and Information
All governments generate and store information that can support sustainable farming systems. Governments can generate, translate, target and provide access to information (this includes information about legislation, regulations, and market trends, as well as scientific and natural resource management information) that has the potential to support EMS adoption and add value to rural business. There is also a role for governments to ensure that management or record-keeping systems are compatible and minimise the time demands on landholders.
|
Framework Role |
Government Implementation Action |
Lead Agency |
Partnerships and/or consultation with Government |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Collate, disseminate, and update EMS information for all stakeholders |
1.1 Establish and maintain up to date sources of EMS information. Provide access to this information via appropriate web-based tools and website links (i.e. EMS Navigator) |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
|
Interested agencies, R&D Corporations, industry bodies and individuals to provide up to date information for inclusion in EMS Navigator |
Immediate & On-going |
|
1.2 Contribute to EMS discussion group/networks throughout Australia for dissemination of EMS developments and initiatives |
State/Australian Government agencies |
Stakeholders to support networks/discussion groups. Stakeholder may include industry groups, govt agencies, consultants, education, retail, processing sectors, and individuals. |
3-5 years |
|
|
1.3 Contribute to workshops, seminars, websites, newsletters, web based email discussion groups, media, and EMS courses. |
State/Australian Government agencies |
Stakeholders to organise and seek government input, i.e. Landcare groups, farm organisations, industry groups |
On-going |
|
|
1.4 Develop a simple, practical “Guide to EMS”. |
State/Australian Government agencies |
EMS Steering Committee |
Within 12 months |
|
|
2 Provide information on environmental risks, standards and best practice for agriculture |
2.1 Review EMS and other likely information requirements to support risk assessment and interpretation of environmental standards and best practice for individual action. |
State/Australian Government agencies |
Core business of Australian Government and state agencies to provide information and support to stakeholders |
Immediate and on-going |
|
2.2 Facilitate, support and coordinate industry efforts to develop EMS, good agricultural practice guidelines, codes of practice and other NRM management tools. |
State/Australian Government agencies |
Catchment bodies, industry, industry suppliers and farm organisations to identify information requirements for these activities |
On-going |
|
|
2.3 Monitor, document and publish information on environmental management practices |
State/Australian Government agencies |
|
|
|
|
3 Facilitate and coordinate EMS training opportunities |
3.1 Establish an EMS Trainer Network (EMS TN) to ensure the provision of appropriate national EMS training courses and materials. |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and NSW Agriculture |
Trainers and other interested stakeholders seek involvement in the Trainer Network, such as Registered Training Organisations (RTO), Regional Training Council of Australia (RTCA), State agencies, Industry bodies and Landcare coordinators |
Investigate within 12 months (review in 5 yrs time) |
|
3.2 Establish a working group to ensure EMS competencies in National Training Packages are consistent with the National Framework and meet the needs of agriculture |
State/Australian Government agencies, Industry Training Accountability Boards (ITABs) |
State/Australian Government agencies to liaise with RTCA, ITABs |
Within 12 months |
|
|
3.3 Support and encourage the development of post-EMS training support mechanisms and arrangements for on-farm EMS development. |
State/Australian Government agencies |
Industry and regional and catchment bodies develop and provide post-EMS training support |
Within 12 months |
|
|
4 Identify case studies and promote benefits of EMS to producers, processors and consumers |
4.1 Use key learnings and experience from EMS National Pilot Program and other relevant case studies (developed as necessary) as an education and communication tool about the costs/benefits and value of EMS as risk reduction and farm management tool |
Australian Government Agencies |
National Pilot Program Manager and |
Duration of pilot program |
|
4.2 Monitor developments and opportunities arising from green market signals, international trends and world markets. Provide this information to producer and industry organisations. |
DAFF |
National Food Industry Strategy, industry marketing boards, Austrade, Dept Finance and Trade, Dept of Environment and Heritage |
On-going |
1. Education and Information (continued)
Complementary actions
|
Lead Agency |
Activity |
Corresponding national action |
In Partnership with - |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dept Sustainability & Environment, VIC |
• Develop a Guide to Environmental Management Systems |
1.4 |
Industry, Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), Australian Conservation Foundation, World Wildlife Fund |
|
• Develop clear, co-ordinated, effective communication in relation to EMS and relevant legislation and use ‘farmer champions’ (where necessary to enhance adoption) to promote it. |
1.1; 1.3; 2.1 |
As above, and VFF Policy Group, other agencies |
|
|
NSW Agriculture |
• Provide EMS training course information via agency website and articles in agricultural media |
3.1 |
Registered Training Organisations |
|
• Provision of training opportunities to suit client needs, ranging from 8 module course integrated with property planning, two day EMS introduction and short awareness workshops |
3.1 |
Rural Industry Research & Development Corporation, primary producers |
|
|
• Identify and publicise existing and new case studies and publish and provide links on State agency, R&D Corporation and Australian Government websites |
1.1 |
|
|
|
• Develop, publish and promote guidelines for best management that are consistent with EMS and Natural Resource Management Strategies |
2.1; 2.2; 2.3 |
|
|
|
Primary Industries & Resources, SA |
• Develop a nationally consistent “summary” of environmental law in SA. Identify existing documents; Establish consistent format/structure for State/jurisdiction summaries |
2.1 |
|
|
• Identify simple indicators at site/farm level that relate directly to indicators of catchment health. Link with national State of Environment indicators |
2.2; 2.3 |
Catchment Water Management Boards, Dept Environment & Heritage, Dept Water Land & Biodiversity, State Environment Protection Agency, regional NRM boards |
|
|
• Provide EMS-related market intelligence to industry groups and producers |
4.2 |
|
|
|
• Convene the 3rd National EMS in Agriculture Conference |
1.2 |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, State economic agencies, industry, Conservation Foundation, World Wildlife Fund |
|
|
QLD Dept of Primary Industries, Environment Protection Agency |
• Collaborate with peak industry bodies including producer representatives, to revise existing and create new Codes of Practice and Best Management Practices that state ways of achieving sustainable production systems and meet general environmental duty. Seek endorsement of final codes and practices by relevant stakeholders. Publish and promote |
2.1; 2.2; 2.3 |
Industry groups, producer representatives, other state agencies |
|
Dept Natural Resources & Mines |
• Examine ways of providing access to natural resource data held by State agencies at reasonable cost, to inform on-farm assessment and EMS development. |
2.1 |
State Environment Protection Agency, regional NRM bodies |
|
Department of Primary Industries, Water, & Environment (DPIWE), TAS |
• Work with key NRM/Landcare Groups and industry to encourage development of EMS at the catchment/sub- regional scale |
2.1; 2.2 |
Natural Resource Management Regional Committees, Landcare Groups; industry |
|
• Work with industry groups to develop, promote and implement EMS on farm. |
|
|
|
|
• EMS /Best practice demonstrations established on-farm. |
2.2 |
Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association (TFGA), Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group, Tasmanian Quality Assured. |
|
|
• Provide EMS/eco-label related market intelligence to industry groups and producers |
1.1; 1.3; 4.2 |
Tasmanian Quality Assured |
|
|
• Publish and promote Codes of Practice and Best Production practices that are consistent with EMS and Natural Resource Management Strategies |
2.1; 2.3 |
TFGA |
|
|
• Pro-graze courses linking grazing management to EMS (especially water) |
2.2; 2.3 |
TFGA |
|
|
• Identify simple indicators at site/farm level that relate directly to indicators of catchment health. Link with national State of Environment, National Action Plan for Salinity & Water Quality and National Heritage Trust II indicators |
2.2; 2.3 |
Regional NRM Committees |
|
|
Dept of Environment and Heritage, Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry |
• Collate, publicise and provide access to supporting Australian Government information |
1.1; 2.3; 4.1; 4.2 |
National Land & Water Resources Audit, Bureau of Rural Sciences, State of Environment |
2. Facilitation and Coordination
Governments can have an important role in facilitating and coordinating the provision of supporting information to underpin EMS development and the range of approaches to EMS and related activities in agriculture.
|
Framework Role |
Implementation Action |
Lead Agency |
Partnerships and/or consultation with government |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 Coordinate establishment of environmental objectives and targets at local, regional and national levels in partnership with research organisations, conservation groups and local communities |
5.1 National Action Plan and Natural Heritage Trust issues, outcomes, objectives and realistic targets defined and developed in a manner able to be used to develop and implement individual EMS. |
State/Australian Government agencies |
Regional Strategy Groups, State agencies, research organisations, conservation groups, community groups, Catchment Management Authorities and industry participate in translating landscape targets to practical on-farm actions. |
Immediate and on-going |
|
5.2 Develop simple (tested) tools for farmers to incorporate catchment and regional targets into on-farm actions EMS. |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), State/Australian Government agencies, RDCs |
|
|
|
|
5.3 Through the Tools projects of the EMS Pilots, develop management support tools that assist data collection and monitoring of EMS information at the farm level |
DAFF |
National Pilot Manager and pilot proponents investigate and identify suitable tools |
Duration of Pilots |
|
|
5.4 Encourage Regional NRM Bodies to include the development of simple tools that enable property managers to interpret regional targets at the property level as part of regional Investment Strategies. |
State/Australian Government agencies, NRM Steering Committees |
Regional NRM Bodies, RDCs, community groups |
Commencing within 12 months |
|
|
5.4 Provide a voluntary mechanism to capture local information generated by individual EMS for incorporation into national resource condition assessment |
State/Australian Government agencies |
RDCs regional bodies, individuals be prepared to contribute monitoring information into local, catchment, regional and national resource conditions assessments |
|
|
|
6 Catalyse EMS development and adoption through expert-led workshops with interested stakeholders |
6.1 Support and provide facilities and experts for EMS workshops and forums. |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries Forestry (DAFF), State/Australian Government agencies |
Industry associations, catchment groups and other interested stakeholders coordinate and promote EMS, forums, workshops and field days as a means of providing access and exchange of information, and to highlight positive actions being taken by stakeholders. |
Commence 2003 and on-going |
|
6.2 EMS National Pilot Program to include workshops to identify and disseminate key learnings |
DAFF |
|
|
|
|
6.3 Support 4th National EMS Conference (2004 or 2005) |
State/Australian Government agencies |
|
|
|
|
7 Support an environmental management framework appropriate to all levels of government and industry |
7.1 Print and Publish the Implementation Plan and raise awareness within industry and community groups |
State/Australian Government agencies – joint project |
Industry and community groups to be aware of the EMS Implementation Plan and pass on information about the plan to their members |
12 months to develop strategy. |
|
7.2 Support the establishment of a new government/industry/community body to oversee implementation and evaluation of the National Framework once the current EMS Implementation Working Group completes its terms of reference |
State/Australian Government agencies – joint project |
Industry, community and conservation groups seek an active role in the joint steering community |
Continue for the 5 years of the EMS Implementation Plan.
|
|
|
8 Assist integration of EMS with other existing environmental management programs and activities (e.g. property management plans, QA etc) |
8.1 Identify and support opportunities for integration of EMS with existing programs and activities through the National EMS Pilot Program |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) |
National Pilot Manager and pilot proponents investigate and identify integration mechanisms and/or tools |
12 months–2 years |
|
8.2 Support and facilitate workshops between environmental and QA system owners and users |
DAFF |
QA and EMS system owners (eg SQF 2000, EUREPGAP, Cattlecare, Graincare, Great Grain etc) and auditors (eg SGS, LRQA) and certification bodies (JAS-ANZ, QSA, AQIS) work together to develop consistent approaches for implementation and audit |
On-going |
|
|
8.3 Investigate common QA and EMS auditing scheme through the National EMS Pilots |
DAFF |
|
|
|
|
8.4 Identify and publish successful initiatives of integration, including R&D outcomes. |
State/Australian Government agencies, RDCs |
Jurisdictions to investigate consistent requirements for landholders in planning and use of EMS to combine them into a single planning process |
On-going |
|
|
8.5 Support the establishment of a national accreditation scheme for agricultural professionals to assist develop EMS and undertake performance verification and system audits. |
|
|
|
2. Facilitation and Coordination (continued)
Complementary actions
|
Lead Agency |
Activity |
Corresponding national action |
In Partnership with - |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Primary Industries & Resources, SA |
• Establish a strategic inter-agency state task force to facilitate implementation of the National Framework |
7.1; 7.2 |
|
|
• Establish an industry-based state steering committee to coordinate industry-government EMS initiatives |
7.1; 7.2 |
|
|
|
QLD Dept of Primary Industries |
• Investigate and support integration of EMS with PMP, Rural Leasehold Strategies and other tenures, EMS/BMP/QA, development of competencies, harmonisation of standards. |
8.1; 8.3 |
|
|
Dept of Primary Industries, Water & Environment (DPIWE), TAS |
• Investigate and support integration of EMS with Property Management Planning and Regional NRM Planning |
5.1; 5.4 |
Regional NRM Committees, landowners, industry |
|
• Collaborate with landowners and industry to develop and promote Guidelines for Best Practice in Agriculture. |
5.2 |
Landowners, industry |
3. Environmental Policy
Governments have a range of policy tools that could assist EMS adoption in agriculture. These include the development of strategies (such as the Framework and EMS Implementation Plan) to inform and guide land managers and decision-makers in the appropriate management of natural resource management. Support for industry/community and primary producer EMS related activities could be provided through the development of innovative policy frameworks that support integrated responses and facilitate natural resource and environmental management. Policy development and delivery could be better integrated across the three spheres of government and between departments.
|
Framework Role |
Implementation Action |
Lead Agency |
Partnerships and/or consultation with government |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 Lead by example through policy to implement EMS in government businesses and properties |
9.1 Sharing of tools and associated information eg model EMS developed by Australian Government, to encourage all jurisdictions to implement EMS in their own operations |
Australian Government and state agencies |
Agencies share models, approaches and experiences |
Within 5 yrs |
|
10 Develop national EMS/NRM strategies and priorities (water use/quality, soil degradation/salinity, pollution, threatened species etc) |
10.1 National strategies and priorities developed and promoted in a manner that enables regional and local interpretation |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) |
Regional bodies and individual producers use national strategies and priorities in the development of regional plans and investment strategies and on-farm EMS |
12–18 months and on-going |
|
10.2 Identify and support the incorporation of the principles of the National Framework for EMS into broader NRM strategies and processes |
DAFF/Dept Environment and Heritage |
Industry, community, catchment and regional bodies identify EMS as one approach for achieving environmental outcomes as part of Regional Investment Strategies and other relevant programs and projects supporting sustainable production |
12–18 months and on-going |
|
|
11 Provide a range of incentives as appropriate to support voluntary and industry-led adoption of EMS |
11.1 Review and modify the EMS Incentives Program to improve its accessibility |
DAFF |
Other jurisdictions, EMS Steering Committee and wider industry/community stakeholders |
Immediate & on-going |
3. Environmental Policy (continued)
Complementary actions
|
Lead Agency |
Activity |
Corresponding national action |
In Partnership with - |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Primary Industries & Resources, SA |
• Establish a strategic inter-agency state task force to facilitate implementation of the National Framework |
7.1; 7.2 |
|
|
• Establish an industry-based state steering committee to coordinate industry-government EMS initiatives |
7.1; 7.2 |
|
|
|
QLD Dept of Primary Industries |
• Investigate and support integration of EMS with PMP, Rural Leasehold Strategies and other tenures, EMS/BMP/QA, development of competencies, harmonisation of standards. |
8.1; 8.3 |
|
|
Dept of Primary Industries, Water & Environment (DPIWE), TAS |
• Investigate and support integration of EMS with Property Management Planning and Regional NRM Planning |
5.1; 5.4 |
Regional NRM Committees, landowners, industry |
|
• Collaborate with landowners and industry to develop and promote Guidelines for Best Practice in Agriculture. |
5.2 |
Landowners, industry |
4. Research & Development
All spheres of government undertake or commission research that is relevant to natural resource management. Governments need to maintain a responsive research and development sector that can create and disseminate new knowledge to build productive and sustainable agricultural sectors and communities. There is scope to ensure that this is better targeted and conducted in partnership with the end users to ensure its applicability and usefulness. Research could be better targeted and coordinated within and between governments.
|
Framework Role |
Implementation Action |
Lead Agency |
Partnerships and/or consultation with government |
Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12 Develop a framework for collaborative and integrated EMS research and development between funding agencies |
12.1 Support the identification of strategic research needs for EMS in the agricultural sector and facilitate R&D initiatives |
Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) |
RDCs, industry to recognise emerging requirements of producers for information and tools to support EMS development |
12–18 months |
|
12.2 Support investigation of ecolabelling and marketing of sustainably produced products |
DAFF with support from State agencies |
National Food Industry Strategy |
|
|
|
13 Collate and publicise information on current research and development projects |
13.1 Government to disseminate findings through extension networks |
State/Australian Government agencies |
RDCs – |
12 months |
4. Research & Development (continued)
Complementary actions
|
Lead Agency |
Activity |
Corresponding national action |
In Partnership with - |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dept of Primary Industries, Water & Environment (DPIWE), TAS |
• Lead, or contribute to projects to assist best management practices in, and improve productivity of the vegetable, potato and associated industries sector. |
12.2 |
Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association, Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group, Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, Department of Economic Development |
|
• Trial grazing management of native pastures for protection of native species |
12.2 |
|
|
|
• Maintain and promote government research stations as centres of excellence for Research, Development, and Evaluation including functions related to water use efficiency, integrated pest management, EMS, and quality assurance |
12.2 |
|
¹ 'Australian Government' agencies refer to the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH). 'State' agencies refer to all relevant State and Territory agencies and include primary industry, agriculture and environment agencies. Where the action refers to just one of these agencies, the individual agency will be specified.
09 Jan 2010