Sustainable growth to 2030

South Australian growers continue to exceed expectations in producing quality grain despite an increasingly harsh climate. This resilience is a testament to our growers, who continue to innovate and adapt to climate challenges to remain viable.

The SA Grain Industry Blueprint recognises the risk that climate change and increased climate variability poses to grain production in South Australia. Hence, the Blueprint will provide a framework for growers to remain profitable and insulate production from climate-related threats while continuing to encourage clean, smart and environmentally friendly practices.

Sustainability must be considered in the implementation of all Blueprint projects, although it has a particularly significant role in the development and adoption of innovative technologies, agronomic practices, market opportunities and processing capabilities.

The Blueprint acknowledges and supports the achievement of key industry targets and projects which will ensure the sustainability of our sector to 2030 and beyond.

 The Blueprint recognises:

  • The risk climate change and climate variability pose to the grain industry
  • The importance of preserving, protecting and enhancing SA’s agricultural land used for food production
  • The valuable opportunity for the grain industry to participate in carbon and natural capital markets, diversifying farm incomes while providing a valuable contribution to mitigating climate change
  • That coordinated government and industry policies are required to address climate change as a fundamental criteria for achieving the Blueprint’s priorities for whole-of-industry growth

Our industry will seek to:

  • Continue to embrace sustainable farming practices, in alignment with state and national sustainability frameworks, including Behind Australian Grain, the Australian Grains Sustainability Framework
  • Pursue carbon neutral status by 2030, deriving a competitive market advantage through embracing a climate-conscious approach to primary production
  • Maintain and sustain SA’s agricultural land used for food production
  • Support growers’ access to and adoption of technologies and practices which mitigate the risk of increased climate variability
  • Conduct a study on the carbon footprint of food production and consumption in SA, to address areas where sustainability may be feasibly improved in our supply chains
  • Create a South Australian grain industry sustainability policy to ensure a unified approach to enhance the sustainability of SA’s grain production and seek to minimise the risk of a changing climate.