The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan – What have we done, and what do we need to do? Peter Deuter DPI&F Queensland

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan – What is the Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan? Relationship to the National Agriculture Climate Change Action Plan (NACCAP)? What are the components of the Horticulture Action Plan? What has been achieved to date? What priorities need urgent attention?

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan The National Agriculture Climate Change Action Plan (NACCAP) was developed with four (4) Focus Areas – Adaptation, Mitigation, R&D and Awareness and Communication www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/33981/nat_ag_clim_chang_action_plan2006.pdf The Horticulture Action Plan was produced as a component of the HAL project [AH06019] – ‘Australian Horticulture's Response to Climate Change and Climate Variability’. For simplicity, it has incorporated the R&D Focus Area into both the Adaptation and Mitigation areas – leaving specific Actions which Australian Horticulture needs to consider under three (3) Focus Areas – (1) Adaptation, (2) Mitigation, (3) Information, Awareness and Communication.

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan – What is the Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan? Relationship to the National Agriculture Climate Change Action Plan (NACCAP)? What are the components of the Horticulture Action Plan? What has been achieved to date? What priorities need urgent attention?

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan Components Adapting to Climate Change Mitigating and Reducing Greenhouse Gases Informing growers, scientists, politicians and the community Each one divided into :- Desired Outcomes Priorities (Actions) which can achieve these desired outcomes Some Questions which these Actions will answer Recommendation: That industry note the priorities, and desired outcomes listed in the Action Plan, and increase R,D&E investment to address these climate change (and climate variability) priorities.

ADAPTATION 1. ADAPTATION Desired Outcome - Resilient and Adaptive Horticultural Production Systems which are less vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. Some Actions - Regional Climate scenarios (downscaling) for all horticulture regions Assess the vulnerability of regions and industries and identify the risks, opportunities and actions required Best management practices – revise to include adaptation and mitigation options Practical tools available to horticultural growers and their advisors to better manage climate change and climate variability Review international impacts for major competitive horticultural crops and identify additional market opportunities 1. ADAPTATION

MITIGATION Desired Outcome – Reduced GHG emissions from horticultural production systems. Some Actions - We need to understand the Carbon Footprint of the industry. Identify and implement efficient Best Management Practices that reduce greenhouse gases from fertiliser, electricity, fuel, refrigeration and waste. Understand how horticulture might engage profitably in GHG sequestration – soils and plants? Understand how the CPRS will affect Horticulture? Understand how the market will respond to overseas trends such as Carbon Labelling? 2. MITIGATION

AWARENESS, INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION Desired Outcome - Horticulture producers and their advisors having sufficient understanding of climate change and climate variability issues to be able to make appropriate risk management decisions. Some Actions - Specific and tailored information for horticulture Information products which promote horticulture-specific messages to growers, the community & to policy makers Scientifically based information including the results of R&D 3. COMMUNICATION

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan – What is the Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan? Relationship to the National Agriculture Climate Change Action Plan (NACCAP)? What are the components of the Horticulture Action Plan? What has been achieved to date? What priorities need urgent attention?

This is the lime title master slide WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED? a) Next Steps - AH06019 – Climate Change Action Plan for Horticulture. b) Adaptation Strategies specific to Horticulture - The simplest adaptation strategies are currently being employed by growers – more adaptable cultivars and cultural practices such as Improved irrigation practices and IPM, which enable growers to maintain current production in current locations – i.e. adapt to the ‘new’ climate in the current location. This will be driven in the first instance to maintain profitability through market timing, market access and market share. c) The best defence against future climate change is to continue to develop the capacity and knowledge to manage our response to climate variability more effectively. A project proposal involving DPI&F and CSIRO scientists, specifically addressing these needs, has been submitted to Land and Water Australia for consideration. This is the lime title master slide

This is the lime title master slide WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED? d) develop a clear understanding of how climate change will impact horticultural cropping systems and businesses in specific regions at temperatures increasing up to 4oC. Land and Water Australia and Horticulture Australia Ltd project, “Critical thresholds (‘tipping points’) and climate change impacts/adaptation in horticulture (2009-2011) has recently been funded to commence addressing this issue. e) HAL funded the project, “Vegetable Industry Carbon Footprint Scoping Study - Discussion Papers and Workshop (VG08107) in 2008. This has led to a project to develop a Carbon Footprint tool for the Australian Vegetable Industry which will be commissioned by HAL in April 2009. f) Australian horticulture has a very small carbon footprint compared with other agriculture sectors. It is estimated that, of the 90Mt CO2-e of greenhouse gases emitted by Agriculture in 2005, Australian horticulture emitted only one (1) MtCO2-e (i.e 1%) in 2005. This is the lime title master slide

This is the lime title master slide WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED? g) The Australian Banana Industry is currently producing a Strategic Plan, and has identified issues associated with its carbon footprint, and the CPRS as issues which require addressing. A desktop study funded HAL, “Understanding and Identifying the Threats and Opportunities for the Banana Industry Posed by Climate Change (BA08014)”, has commenced in 2009. h) Apples and Avocadoes industries have called for project proposals to commence an understanding of Climate Change implications in these industries. This is the lime title master slide

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan – What is the Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan? Relationship to the National Agriculture Climate Change Action Plan (NACCAP)? What are the components of the Horticulture Action Plan? What has been achieved to date? What priorities need urgent attention?

This is the lime title master slide WHAT IS URGENTLY REQUIRED? ADAPTATION Downscaling climate change scenarios – horticulture context Vulnerability assessments of the major production regions Adaptation Strategies for the most vulnerable regions = Best Management Practices Opportunities in Australia or O/S as a result of climate change – new crops?? and new export opportunities?? This is the lime title master slide

This is the lime title master slide WHAT IS URGENTLY REQUIRED? MITIGATION & REDUCTION What is Horticultures’ Carbon Footprint? How can this be reduced?– BMP’s which are profitable, sustainable and reduce GHG emissions Why should this be reduced? What are the practicalities and economics of carbon sequestration in soils and trees associated with horticultural production systems? This is the lime title master slide

This is the lime title master slide WHAT IS URGENTLY REQUIRED? INFORMATION, AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION Scientifically based information useful for both growers and the community Specific Information topics – (some examples) What is the Carbon Footprint of Horticulture compared with Agriculture and other Sectors? Soil Carbon Sequestration Horticulture Specific Impacts of Climate Change Horticulture Specific Adaptation Strategies Trends in Climate Change Uncertainties in the Climate Change debate Climate Change and Climate Variability – is there a difference? This is the lime title master slide

Conclusions Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan Achievements – Funded projects with recommendations which have begun to help us understand Climate Change in a Horticulture context. What Next? – Vulnerability & Adaptation Strategies – Understand Carbon Footprint & Reduce it – Information & Awareness will be important – Manage Climate Variability

This is the lime title master slide