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Sustainable Industry Initiatives
Introduction
The Sustainable Industry Initiatives (the SII Program) are funded through the national component of the National Landcare Program (NLP).
The program works in partnership with national industry groups to encourage sustainable and nationally consistent approaches to natural resource management (NRM). The ultimate goal is to have these industries widely recognised as implementing sustainable best management practice (BMP) for NRM. To meet this goal BMP needs to be applied at farm, catchment, regional and industry levels. It is recognised that best practice may vary for different industry sectors and for different geographical areas.
NLP support for industry fosters a strategic approach to NRM. It encourages industry and farmers to become more involved with landcare and NRM activities by developing alliances with sustainable primary industries. Farmers are already involved in NRM activities as part of their daily farming practices. The Australian Government wants to ensure that they can access the information, technologies, skills and support they need to sustainably manage natural resources and conduct profitable enterprises.
Farmers, who manage more than 60 per cent of the land and 70 per cent of the diverted water, typically look to industry organisations for reliable information and future direction. By supporting national industry groups, the SII Program strengthens industry commitment and investment in NRM. The program is based on the principle that industry-wide strategic approaches are most effectively developed and coordinated at a national level. It targets national industry groups because they can equip resource managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to manage their activities sustainably.
Objective
The objective of the SII Program is to enhance the profitability and sustainability of portfolio industries through:
- increasing their ownership of NRM
- increasing the number of resource managers and industries that adopt NRM, sustainable agricultural practices and industry BMP
- promoting widespread recognition of industry BMP as sustainable
- increasing industry participation in regional planning and activities
Activities
Project activities supported generally fall into three main categories:
- development of national NRM strategies
- development of NRM tools
- extension activities
Specific activities supported may include, but are not limited to:
- strategic planning and target setting for industry NRM
- benchmarking BMP for NRM
- development and uptake of NRM and industry BMP
- development of approaches for monitoring, evaluating and reporting industry performance in NRM
- development of innovative approaches to technology transfer, education, training, extension and communication (both within and across industries)
- development of industry partnerships with regional NRM bodies and communities
- broad-scale application of research and development
- development of tools and mechanisms to enhance sustainable NRM and successful primary production businesses
Eligibility
The target partners are those organisations that can provide a national focus for their industry. This is likely to include national industry groups, peak industry bodies and commodity organisations. This may also include production, supply chain and service provider participants.
The program focus will be on industries which have:
- a national scope and broad industry inclusion
- demonstrated commitment to implementing best management practice
- capability for participation in partnerships
- capacity to deliver NRM outcomes and large improvements in sustainable agriculture
- existing structures and groups
Industry organisations must be able to clearly demonstrate industry commitment, support and ownership of projects by:
- providing financial and/or in-kind resources
- supporting key industry representatives who will promote and participate in the project
- articulating how the industry will implement and/or invest in the results of the project
There is no formal call for applications and project proposals are developed in conjunction with Departmental staff (see details below). Projects are developed on a co-investment partnership basis and may be structured through to June 2008.
Funding for this program is now fully committed.
Industry Partnerships
Partnerships in progress include:
- Project Proponent: Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
Project Description: Coordinated by GRDC and supported by the Grains Council of Australia (GCA), the project will develop a comprehensive environmental plan for the Australian Grains Industry. Elements of the project include: (a) measuring achievements of the industry environmental plan by further developing the National Farm Practices Database and (b) securing a basis for the environmental plan’s on-going use and funding as well as developing partnerships with the broader grains industry including agribusiness, government agencies and NRM bodies. The project will lead to enhanced sustainable agriculture and environmental outcomes by providing a national system and streamlining the information flow between farmers, NRM bodies, industry and government. - Project Proponent: Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL)
Project Description: The first phase of the Horticulture for Tomorrow NRM Initiative, supported through SII, developed an industry NRM Strategy, improved industry links with regional bodies, and improved industry understanding of issues associated with setting targets for resource condition and management practices. This project builds on this initiative by pursuing the priorities identified in the NRM Strategy which include Industry Leadership and Coordination, Regional Industry Strategies and Coordination and Horticulture NRM Communications. This will further build the capacity of industry to address NRM issues and will result in better NRM plans and programs. - Project Proponent: Oil Mallee Association (OMA)
Project Description: The Oil Mallee industry was developed and advanced in Western Australia and the proposed project aims to share this experience nationally and extend the reach of the Oil Mallee Association (OMA). Two workshops will be held to discuss the strategic dynamics of the industry across Australia and to share knowledge, engage stakeholders and move towards a mallee industry strategy and national body. - Project Proponent: National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI)
Project Description: Under a partnership and consultative approach, NAFI will explore and facilitate low cost, practical solutions to enable the uptake of certification under the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) for small private forest growers (native forests and plantations). The pilot approach will achieve greater awareness within the forest industry and agricultural sector of the value of forest certification and effective NRM and BMP outcomes. Once the piloting is completed the program will be extended and implemented at the national level. - Project Proponent: Dairy Australia Ltd.
Project Description: This project aims to strengthen and coordinate industry-wide and regional NRM initiatives to increase the adoption of sustainable dairying practices. It aims to foster better engagement between Catchment Management Groups and the dairy industry, to allow greater industry input into Regional NRM Plans and target setting. The project will foster awareness amongst farmers and communities of NRM issues, and relevant industry initiatives to resolve these issues. - Project Proponent: Cotton Catchment Communities CRC (Cotton CRC)
Project Description: The project aims to work collaboratively with NRM agencies to ensure that NRM extension activities and resources are utilised to achieve the best NRM outcomes and to avoid duplication. - Project Proponent: Fertiliser Industry Federation of Australia (FIFA) and the Australian Fertiliser Services Association (AFSA)
Project Description: The Fertiliser Industry Partnership Program is developing Fertcare, a national training and accreditation initiative for all fertilizer and soil ameliorant industry businesses and staff. Fertcare is designed to lift the skills and knowledge of all individuals involved in the supply and distribution of fertilizers and to assist in optimising environmental stewardship, occupational health and safety, food safety and agricultural profitability. - Project Proponent: Irrigation Association of Australia (IAA)
Project Description: Develop training and certification measures to underpin best practice guidelines, related industry requirements and funding incentives to increase the capacity of the rural irrigation industry to achieve better natural resource management outcomes - Project Proponent: Grower Group Alliance (GGA)
Project Description: This project seeks an integrated approach to agriculture, bringing growers, community groups and industry organisations together to increase the adoption of sustainable production systems. The project will enhance the ability of groups to gather industry intelligence, form partnerships and develop and extend programs to encourage adoption of sustainable agricultural practices amongst WA landholders. - Project Proponent: West Australian No-Till Farmers Association (WANTFA)
Project Description: This project aims to investigate and communicate the benefits of no-till and conservation farming practices to WANTFA members and the broader grower community. The project will promote the extension and coordination of conservation agriculture activities across Australia, through the Conservation Agriculture Alliance of Australia and New Zealand (CAAANZ). - Project Proponent: Saltland Pastures Association (SPA)
Project Description: This project aims to facilitate the revegetation by land owners and managers of one million hectares of salt affected Agricultural land in WA over ten years (2005-2015). Approximately 900 000 ha will be revegetated for forage production and 100 000 ha for biodiversity. SPA aims to strengthen partnerships with R&D organisations to further refine and develop pasture establishment and management techniques.
Completed partnerships include:
- Project Proponent: Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL)
Project Description: This project is a component of the HAL Horticulture for Tomorrow program. This project will develop a national Horticulture Natural Resource Management Strategy to examine industry NRM issues and develop methods to address these issues. HAL will test a number of regional and industry NRM strategies as pilot studies to determine NRM program requirements, provide a framework for the development of new programs and encourage industry uptake of best management practices.
Horticulture Australia Ltd report
Word [212kb] - Project Proponent: NSW Sugar and the National Food and Industry Strategy Ltd
Project Description: The project is investigating the potential benefits of a complete food chain sustainability reporting systems for farmers, processors and wholesalers that would enable the reporting of sustainable NRM activities to consumers.
NSW Sugar and the National Food and Industry Strategy Ltd report Word [136kb] - Project Proponent: Winemakers Federation of Australia
Project Description: The project is establishing a management structure to implement its Natural Resource Management Program (NRMP) in line with the industry’s NRM and environment strategy, Sustaining Success 2002 and to support the work of the National Wine Industry Environment Committee (WINEC). The project is establishing a two-way consultation process with states and regions, government agencies, supply chains and other key interest groups to identify and address NRM priorities. This includes establishing links to ensure the wine industry regional NRM approaches are consistent with, and contribute to, regional catchment and state resource and sustainability plans.
Winemakers Federation of Australia report Word [178kb] - Project Proponent: Australian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (ANCID)
Project Description: To facilitate the development of an Industry driven irrigation information network, including the development of a website portal that will enable all sectors of the Australian community to share and use credible information about irrigation.