Food & Climate
The National Climate Risk Assessment identified extreme heat, shifting growing seasons and supply chains impacted by severe weather as key risks to Australian food supply from a warmer climate.
Farmers say they are already adapting to threats to Australian food supply outlined in the first National Climate Risk Assessment, but support is needed for swifter action, according to a report seen by “Food & Climate” platform.
There are calls for funding to match the ambition when new 2035 climate targets are released later this week.
The report identified shifting growing seasons, rising interruptions to supply chains from natural disasters and damage to crops and livestock from extreme heat as key threats to food supply in a warmer climate.
Ahead of new climate targets expected to be released this week, grower groups say the $94 billion industry is part of the solution, but they warn urgent support will be needed.
The National Climate Risk Assessment rated the current risk to primary industries and the food system as moderate to high, rising to high to very high by 2050.
Australian food supply risks
Heat stress reducing crop yield. Poor pasture growth and heat stress impacting livestock. Fruit sunburn that reduces quality and marketability of produce. Poor flowering and yield for crops reliant on cool nights
And shorter growing seasons. Supply chains interrupted by drought, fire and floods. Threats to outdoor worker health. Increased competition for water. Declining forest growth rates. Higher biosecurity risks and costs. Reduction in jobs and prosperity in farm communities
The impact on agriculture would “cascade and increase risks to other systems” like the economy and global trade, it said, leading to domestic food security vulnerabilities in the long term.
“For example, impacts may be felt in public health and safety, including in reduced food security in some areas, and in the mental health of producers and associated communities,” the assessment said.
“Australia is one of the most food-secure nations in the world, producing more than it consumes.
“However, it remains uncertain whether current technological improvements and uptake will be adequate to address the risks posed by future climate changes.”
Farmers for Climate Action
Farmers for Climate Action represents almost 8,500 farmers and has 80,000 community supporters across the country.
Chief executive Natalie Collard said governments needed to back up concerns about climate impacts on regional communities with policies to support agriculture.
“Every farming region is already impacted today and we’re looking at extremely concerning results.”
She said farmers were already adapting to the changing climate and reducing their emissions, but support was needed.
“What we need now is government to match that ambition with adaptation, infrastructure, investment and a really strong sector plan for land and agriculture,” she said.
“What we’re hoping government will do with this new data is invest in climate smart farming adaptation, invest in regional infrastructure and have a strong agriculture and land sector plan.”
The assessment projected greater warming in Northern Australia, with Queensland home to 18 of the 20 most exposed regions.
Shane McCarthy, the president of farm lobby AgForce Queensland, said farmers should be seen as adaptable and part of the solution.
“In order to be able to produce food and fibre to the standard that we already produce it, as some of the best in the world, we need the ability to adapt and adapt quickly,” he said.
“Every producer I know, they intimately know their land — my advice to government is talk to industry, involve them in the conversation early because these guys know their land better than anybody else.”
The federal government also released a National Adaptation Plan, which acknowledged its role to provide targeted assistance.
The assessment said ongoing improvements across the sector had demonstrated a “willingness and capability to respond to change”, but current approaches may not be enough to keep pace.