Climate focus for South Australian farmers

Farmers for Climate Action

Climate focus for South Australian farmers

South Australian farmers are gathering in McLaren Vale this month to find out how they can be part of the solution to climate change, at a workshop held by Farmers for Climate Action.

The workshop is being held from November 9 to 11, coinciding with the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

21 leading farmers have been selected to attend from a wide range of industries, from viticulture to livestock grazing.

They will hear from experts including South Australian Research and Development Institute climate scientist Peter Hayman, Jen Barwick from Department of Primary Industries and Regions to explain their carbon farming roadmap, and a solar power company focused on water pumping and off-grid systems.

Farmers for Climate Action SA coordinator Ellen Litchfield said: “The three-day workshop is part of a fellowship to help connect farmers from across Australia that are passionate about how they can make their farms more resilient, and to get climate action happening across Australia.

“Farmers are already feeling the effects of climate change on-farm and they want to be prepared.

“The farmers coming are leaders in their communities and want to help other people in their community see that climate change isn’t just a political debate. It’s happening and is already impacting their businesses and the right policy framework will help them through this.

“In Australia we need climate action taken this decade. The industry that feeds and clothes us relies on this.”

Kangaroo Island farmer Carly Buttrose is attending the workshop and says it’s a great opportunity to have important conversations around how farmers can be a big part of the solution to climate change.

“Farmers are the custodians of huge swathes of this earth. There are not many individuals who really have the power to change our climate in the way that farmers do,” she said.

“There are already systems that have a positive effect on climate and profitability which is really exciting.”

The workshop will delve deeper into these opportunities by visiting a local winery that is leading the way on being carbon smart, and by gaining a greater understanding of carbon farming in South Australia. When it comes to farming, decreasing emissions goes hand-in-hand with increasing productivity. These farmers recognise there are many co-benefits and are keen to

/Public Release.