Sustainable Agriculture
Australia's ability to continue to produce food for the Australian and worlds growing populations is essential. Unless farmers manage natural resources sustainably, including soil, nutrients, water and biodiversity then Australia will not be able to continue to produce some of the world's best produce.
Sustainable Agriculture Practices for livestock farmers
The livestock industry takes a triple bottom line approach to sustainable agriculture, this means:
- Managing the environment well
- Creating stable rural communities
- Having a viable Australian livestock industry
All three aspects of a sustainable red meat industry are interconnected and should not be looked at in isolation. Environmental sustainability for example can only be achieved if the farming business is viable. Likewise, stable rural communities are often dependent on the profitability of the livestock industry.
Most livestock farmers recognise that for a sustainable business that they need to maintain or enhance the natural resources on their properties. However, unless they are producing a profit, spending the time and money needed to enhance natural resources becomes difficult. Therefore, economic and social issues, as well as the productivity of the land and the broader health of the environment, have to be considered when working towards sustainable agriculture.
Natural Resources Management for livestock farmers is focused on ensuring that:
- Native vegetation is well-managed and/or protected
- The health of rivers and waterways is maintained or restored
- Salinity and its related impacts are addressed
- That best-practice management techniques are being employed on their farms
Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Sustainable agriculture practices are a priority for all primary industries in Australia. Farmers often produce a number of commodities, for example in the wheat sheep belts of Australia many farmers grow grains and also graze livestock.
In areas that are suitable to grow grains as well as graze livestock, the rotation of crops and cattle grazing has benefits for the land, particularly for improving soil health. Studies have suggested that by resting crops and having cattle graze the stubble for a period, then returning to cropping, that soil health is improved. Generally this also leads to increased carbon being stored in the soil than if crops were continually planted.
Sustainable Farming
Balancing financial sustainability and environmentally sustainability is a challenge and one that researchers, the industry and farmers are working together to address.
Sustainable farming needs to ensure that high production can be maintained to feed our population into the future. At the same time input costs need to be reduced to ensure that farmers are financially sustainable and care needs to be taken to ensure that the natural resources are not depleted for tomorrow.
To see examples of what individual livestock farmers are doing in sustainable agriculture please visit our case studies section.
Sustainable Soils
Healthy soils are critical to agriculture sustainability. Poor soil health prevents good pasture and tree growth for cattle to graze.
Soil health is a key area of focus for the livestock industry.
Sustainable red meat supply chain
On farm sustainability represents the first step in ensuring a sustainable red meat supply chain. Beyond the farm gate the grain fed and processing sectors have critical roles in ensuring a sustainable red meat industry in Australia.
Both industries invest heavily in reducing their environmental impacts, particularly in respect to reducing emissions and managing water use. For more information on these activities please look at:
Once the product has left the processor transport companies and retailers are also implementing programs to reduce their environmental impact.
What you can do
Beyond the retailer individuals can also play a role in reducing their environmental impact. Food waste is a major issue in Australia with a recent study undertaken by the Australian Institute showing that Australian households are throwing out $5.2 billion worth of food each year.
Food waste is sent to landfill which slowly breaks down, producing methane gas. So by buying only what you need or freezing leftovers you can help reduce your personal environmental footprint.