Agriculture minister Murray Watt says farmers operating outside developing government regulation and policy regimes and supply chain and banking frameworks will likely punish themselves by potentially losing access to markets and finance. The Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Land Sectoral Plan explores ways to contribute to economy-wide goals to reduce emissions and in the ag minister’s words, provides incentives and support rather than punitive measures.

Recent producer submissions to a sectoral plan consultation have suggested the government’s green transition needs to better assist producer adaption to low-carbon practices and technologies without compromising farm viability, trade and global as well as regional food security. The plan is being developed as agriculture is experiencing reduced productivity caused by extreme weather events, supply chain, infrastructure and workforce disruptions and low farm gate margins as well as high input prices.