Sign in Subscribe
Climate change

Agriculture to Meet 28% Emissions Reduction by 2050, Experts Say

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Australian government's Agriculture and Land Sector Plan has estimated that farming contributes 19.6% to the country's net emissions, with land acting as a net sink equivalent to -16.5%. An expert from the University of Melbourne believes that the industry will "naturally" contribute to the 28% reduction in emissions projected by 2050. However, the sector's biggest emitters are likely to miss their own net-zero targets, as per the University of Melbourne professor Richard Eckard.

Key Takeaways:

  • The federal government's Agriculture and Land Sector Plan estimates that farming contributes 19.6% to Australia's net emissions, while land is a net sink equivalent to -16.5%.
  • Professor Richard Eckard from the University of Melbourne believes that the industry will "naturally" contribute to the 28% reduction in emissions projected by 2050, but is unlikely to hit its own net-zero targets.
  • The sector's emissions reduction opportunities depend on individual industries and their footprints, with opportunities including energy-focused solutions for viticulture, manure management for pigs and poultry, and fertiliser-focused solutions for cropping.
  • Farmers may face increased competition for access to abatement measures as the government explores tightening its climate targets.
  • The industry has a "once in a generation opportunity" to develop low-carbon fuel, with GrainGrowers chief executive Shona Gawel seeing the potential for benefit to farmers across the country.
  • The government's expectation of a 28% reduction in emissions by 2050 is "ambitious but achievable," according to Richard Heath, chief executive of Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture.
  • The industry is investing in technology to reduce emissions, with a focus on methane mitigation, improving fertility, and days on feed.

Statistics:

  • Farming contributes 19.6% to Australia's net emissions.
  • Land is a net sink equivalent to -16.5%.
  • The industry is projected to reduce emissions by 28% by 2050.
  • Viticulture's emissions reduction opportunities are focused on energy use.
  • Pigs and poultry's emissions reduction opportunities are focused on manure management.
  • Cropping's emissions reduction opportunities are focused on fertiliser management.

Sources:

  • Shona Gawel, GrainGrowers chief executive
  • Richard Eckard, University of Melbourne professor
  • Natalie Collard, Farmers for Climate Action chief executive
  • Richard Heath, Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture chief executive
  • University of Melbourne
  • GrainGrowers
  • Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture
  • Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC)
  • Farmers for Climate Action
  • Government's Agriculture and Land Sector Plan
  • Treasury's plan modelled by the federal government

Read more