Dairy Australia has launched a Climate Change Strategy.
The strategy sets out DA's climate commitment, investment intent and priorities across research, development and extension (RD&E) for the first time.
The strategy lays out a range of actions to be undertaken in the next five years to help dairy farmers adapt and build their resilience to climate change impacts on profitability, while contributing to industry wide sustainability targets.
The strategy is available to download at www.dairyaustralia.com.au/climate.
Dairy Australia supports farmers with adapting to climate change through a range of related farm programs and investments, including in joint ventures DairyBio and DairyFeedbase, which are focused on delivering 'future proofing' innovation to dairy farmers.
"The launch of this strategy is a really important step for the future of Australia's dairy industry," DA managing director Dr David Nation said.
"It recognises that responding to climate change is one of our highest priorities, that farmers are experiencing impacts of climate now and that experts are saying these challenges will only increase."
Dr Nation said the strategy was about enabling a climate-committed Australian dairy industry with cost effective and achievable actions.
It provided a clear vision towards realising climate goals and included success measures for farmers to gauge how they are tracking.
"Dairy Australia's role is critical in supporting the dairy industry to respond to the challenges and opportunities of climate change," he said.
"RD&E investment and programs that help farmers adapt to climate risk and farm profitably and sustainably are integrated across our organisation.
"We're focused on helping farm businesses become more resilient and thrive in a changing environment."
Dr Nation said consumers and trading partners wanted to know that Australian milk was produced with a low carbon footprint.
This meant a proactive role in environmental stewardship was important and would be a key theme in industry marketing.
DA's climate and energy lead Alison Kelly said the strategy had been developed with input from internal and external experts, including dairy farmers and industry bodies who were already seeing and responding to the pressures of climate change.
"The strategy prioritises our RD&E efforts across climate change adaptation, linking climate action with environmental stewardship and solutions for addressing emissions," she said.
"It aligns with the goals of the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework, including a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions intensity across the dairy industry by 30 per cent by 2030.
"This target has the support of the whole dairy supply chain, who will be critical partners investing in solutions for dairy farmers."
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