Agricultural Sustainability Knowledge Hub

Agricultural sustainability and regional NRM organisations

Regional NRM Organisations have worked with farmers, farmer groups, Rural Development Corporations and Agricultural businesses towards the mutual goal of improving the management of natural resources in productive systems in line with regional priorities. Industry focus on sustainability has become increasingly urgent and obvious in recent years as the world works towards better recognising and accounting for the role of nature in societies structures. See Report: Integrating NRM with Industry-Led Sustainability

NRM Regions Australia’s Industry Partnership project has examined the varied roles that regional NRM organisations have played and may contribute through partnering with agricultural practitioners. The resources associated with this work are on the Industry Partnership project page.

The increase in focus on nature has lead to the development and implementation of policies, standards and frameworks for wider business activities which are now being applied to agriculture. Land based systems are also being seen as a recourse to offset and inset business’ impact on nature. These structures for measuring, monitoring and reporting impact on nature are in development and regularly changing as the complexity of natural systems dawns on business. There are however structures that have been developed for business to report environmental, social and governance positions. You can find links to these in this Sustainability Knowledge Hub. These start with international standards, national sustainability frameworks, industry sustainability frameworks and programs for measuring, certifying and reporting farm business nature impact.

Publications & Reports

Integrating NRM with Industry-Led Sustainability

NRM and Industry partnerships desktop study

ESG, Agriculture Sustainability Frameworks, Natural Capital, SDGs and Net Zero - Trends in sustainability reporting

Exploring partnership opportunites for Dairy and NRM in SW Victoria

Industry Sustainability Frameworks

Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework Summary

If you want a quick preview of the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework, then this short summary is for you.

Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework

The AASF communicates the sustainability status and goals of the Australian agricultural industry to markets and to the community. The AASF has a Community of Practice that you can join to learn more about how this framework and its overarching role in communicating Australian Agriculture's Sustainability position. The Australian Farm Institute (AFI) delivered the framework structure (linked below) in mid-2022, informed by industry consultation, an expert reference group, parallel discovery projects coordinated by NFF and an extensive review of domestic and global sustainability frameworks. Work is now underway on data discovery and governance recommendations, as well as review of the current framework’s principles and criteria. The report, Development of the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework 2021-22, is summarised on this page

Australian Beef Sustainability Framework

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) sets out the key indicators of performance in sustainability for the beef industry. It enables success to be recognised through evidence-based metrics and empowers the industry to continually improve and demonstrate its values to customers, investors and stakeholders.

Sheep Sustainability Framework

The Sheep Sustainability Framework defines sustainable sheep production in Australia, prioritises industry issues and measures industry performance against relevant indicators.

The Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework

Hort Innovation has released the Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework, a guide to help the horticulture sector share its sustainable, ethical, and safe farming practice stories with stakeholders.

Wine Australia

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is Australia’s national program for grapegrowers and winemakers to demonstrate and continuously improve their sustainability credentials in the vineyard and winery through the environmental, social and economic aspects of their businesses.

Planet.People.Paddock

PLANET. PEOPLE. PADDOCK. is the Australian cotton industry’s sustainability framework. It recognises sustainability is integral to the industry’s future and provides a path for the entire industry to stay in business. Through a process of stakeholder consultation and review, eight environmental, economic and social sustainability topics have been assessed as being most important to cotton growers and stakeholders inside and outside the industry.

Australian Grains Sustainability Framework - Behind Australian Grain

The Australian grains industry sustainability framework, Behind Australian Grain, has been developed to strengthen our industry’s sustainability and assist in ensuring we continue to meet the changing expectations and needs of our consumers, the community, investors and governments.

Industry Environmental Credentials programs

MyBMP - Cotton

myBMP is a free, on-line farm management tool that helps cotton growers manage their responsibilities to the natural environment and to their workers. It helps reduce risks around the farm, meet legislative requirements and keep the paperwork in order.

Smartcane BMP

Smartcane BMP is a proactive, continuous improvement program led by the Australian sugarcane industry. The Queensland Government has provided funding towards the industry-developed, industry-owned program.

AgCarE

AgCarE is an evaluation of farms natural capital, including an initial audit of carbon and biodiversity assets.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia

Australia's national program for grape growers and winemakers committed to making susutinable wine.

FreshCare

Established in 2000, Freshcare is an Australian-owned and operated company providing internationally recognised assurance standards for the fresh produce and wine grape industries.

Carbon Calculators and extension programs

CarbonEDGE

Carbon EDGE is a new two-day training program for the red meat industry, providing participants with an understanding of the opportunities for emissions reduction and carbon storage activities in a livestock grazing business.

Carbon Calculator Report

GrainGrowers has launched Carbon Calculators compared for Australian grain growers, a research report that was to be a guide for growers looking for a product that would assist with measuring greenhouse gas, or carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on-farm. The report however indicates that these calculators need further work before farmers can be confident in assessing their net emissions.