Head of Thomas Elders Sustainable Agriculture, Dave McKeon, represented Elders at the Regions Rising SA event in the Adelaide Hills on Tuesday, on a panel about net zero emissions, where a number of South Australia’s thought-leaders discussed the transition and its implications locally.
Dave McKeon, Head of Thomas Elders Sustainable Agriculture, speaking on net zero panel.
Speaking on the transition to net-zero specific to agriculture, Mr McKeon said he was enthusiastic about opportunities into the future but also highlighted the need to be realistic and pragmatic about what is achievable in the short-term.
“It’s really important to take a practical approach to emissions reduction and carbon sequestration strategies, particularly when looking at individual farm businesses who each have a set of unique circumstances. There will be no silver bullet solution that will be applicable across the entire agriculture industry,” he said.
“As a sector we’ve made incredible progress in recent decades delivering both productivity and sustainability outcomes concurrently, and we will continue to evolve, but for any new solution or approach we need to ensure technical and commercial feasibility before we can reliably build it into a net zero pathway.
Solutions such as slow-release nitrogen fertilisers, and methane reduction supplements will continue to evolve, but these also need to be built into a broader farm production system and any trade-offs and additional costs carefully managed.
Solutions will continue to evolve and Elders will continue working with the farming community to capture market opportunities and address industry challenges, as we have for 185 years.”
Mr McKeon stated that agriculture has an important role to play in the net-zero debate.
“Over half of Australia’s land mass is currently used for agriculture to produce high quality food and fibre. However, the same land is also increasingly in demand for carbon sequestration and renewable energy opportunities and a careful balance will be critical to ensure agriculture can continue to be part of the solution, and play a significant role in Australia’s net zero transition.
We need to ensure what’s happening below and above ground is complimentary, to ensure carbon farming projects are commercially viable and consider agricultural productivity outcomes for our producers alongside the production of carbon credits.”
Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie launched two new research reports at the event, focused on the role of rural and regional Australia in the transition to net-zero, Towards Net Zero: Transition Pathways in Regional Australia and Towards Net Zero: Decarbonising Pivotal Industries in Regional Australia.
Elders also announced the opening of applications for grants under its Community Giving Project, allowing not-for-profit organisations to secure funding to support initiatives that have community impact.