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A regular newsletter produced
by NSW Agriculture reporting research findings and activities which underpin
the development of internationally acceptable accreditation systems for
sustainable agricultural production, environment management and new agri-industry
systems. Contributions are welcome. Contact: The Editor,
Gavin Tinning, EMS in Agriculture Workshop Secretariat Ph (02) 66261139
Fax (02) 66283264 Email gavin.tinning@agric.nsw.gov.au
or
Genevieve Carruthers: Ph:
(02) 66261237 Fax (02) 66283264 Email genevieve.carruthers@agric.nsw.gov.au
or
Development
of Environmental Management
Systems
on Australian Beef properties
This Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) project is piloting EMS development for the industry.
Project Objectives:
2. Define the processes for achievement of ISO 14001 certification as per objective 1.
3. Document and evaluate on a 'triple bottom line' basis, the benefits and any difficulties of implementing the ISO 14001 standard for the grazing industry by June 2002.
4. Promote to the wider beef industry that the development of an EMS will have a range of potential environmental, marketing and management benefits. This would be ongoing over time.
5. Document by June 2002, key elements which might contribute to Codes of Practice for the beef industry and its environmental management.
All of the four groups
are in the planning phase of their EMS. A lot of time and effort is being
directed towards the initial environmental review as this sets the foundations
for the EMS. Currently each of the four groups is busy compiling their
EMS and each is at a slightly different stage of development.
Each group is using the generic grains EMS model developed by NSW Agriculture as a template. In effect the groups will 'beefise' the grains manual to produce a group EMS manual that can then be adapted by each grazier to suit his or her needs.
The groups are conscious of keeping the EMS as simple as possible so are incorporating the relevant sections of Cattlecare into their group EMS.
The pilot groups are very much aware that what they are doing is groundbreaking and is coming from the bottom-up.
Some of the most interesting
points to be come from the pilot groups so far include: • Need to concentrate
on the core environmental issues in formulating an EMS.
• An EMS should be part of the whole property management system.
• There needs to be a balance between how ambitious the EMS is to start with, and the knowledge that continual improvement is integral to the process.
• Producers must be able to differentiate between an environmental checklist and an environmental management system; there are significant differences.
• This pilot EMS project must capture producers' experiences in assembling their EMS. These findings will benefit the beef industry.
• There is nothing difficult about an EMS as the system is simple and the producer sets the environmental priorities.
For more information
contact the MLA project coordinator: Steve Banney, telephone (07) 4093
9284 E-mail: sdb@austarnet.com.au
COMPASS helps sugar industry move in right direction
Contributed by Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations Code of Practice officer Melissa Azzopardi.
The sugar industry is currently in the process of developing a self-assessment workbook for cane growers which will allow them to identify their responsibilities in line with the Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing and demonstrate their commitment to good environmental management.
The COMPASS workbook
(COMPASS=COMbining Profitability And Sustainability in Sugar) is being developed as part of a two-year SRDC-funded project "Raising Awareness and Adoption of Sustainable Cane Growing Practices". The COMPASS workbook will allow growers to rank their current farming practices, identify recommended best practices, and develop action plans to implement necessary changes.
The workbook covers 10 different aspects of sugar cane growing including nutrition and fertiliser use, irrigation, drainage, business management and planning, riparian management, integrated pest management, planting, chemicals and dangerous goods, harvesting, and soil health and conservation.
The COMPASS Workbook will be delivered to Queensland and New South Wales' 7000 cane growers through group training workshops from March 2002.
For more information on this project, please contact Melissa on 07 49545100.
Victorian Grazing Industries and EMS
'Clean and Green' is the lyric humming in the ears of Australia's agricultural industries. But as with most things the proof is in the pudding. For some time now agricultural industries have addressed the 'Clean' component through QA systems with much success. But there are two sides to this coin, and it was only a matter of time before substantiation of 'Green' would be requested.
The Victorian beef and dairy industries rely predominantly on export markets for sustainability and growth. However, market research has shown markets want proof of our slogan. A coordinated approach to this issue is being developed within the grazing industries throughout Victoria.
A statewide team of 3 research institutes are linking together to develop an EMS for Victorian agricultural and horticultural industries. This project also aims to reduce duplication within the State and produce a system with a coordinated approach.
It has been suggested that an EMS be developed at the bigger picture level. As the concept is relatively new for the dairy industry it has been recommended that a staged approach be used to develop an EMS.
The initial stage will be the development of a selfassessment tool targeting priority issues initially.
A scoping project has been carried out to determine the need, scale and requirements of such a tool for the dairy industry and the final report has just been completed. This project has strong support from dairy factories and other dairy industry stakeholders, but is still in the initial phase of development. It is hoped that once the tool is developed, on farm trials will be achieved within a targeted catchment." An EMS (Environmental Management System) deals with environmental concerns through a cycle of continual improvement, the driver of the project, with the initial focus being on nutrient management on farm.
A farmer who has used the EMS process and is working towards ISO14001 certification recently said "I thought it would be difficult, but it isn't as bad as I thought. I found I was doing a lot of the things required anyway. I found the EMS disciplines me to actually do the things that I say I should get around to. I don't have to achieve it all overnight either, the system allows me to chose what is most important to do and to work through the list at my own pace. Sure it takes time and there is a bit of paperwork, but it is actually making things happen.
Before it was easy to say, 'Yep I'll do that, I'll do that tomorrow'." For more details about the project please contact Cindy Hasthorpe on 0356242222 or email: Cindy.Hasthorpe@nre.vic.gov.au
EMS in Agriculture Conference
A draft program for the conference and post conference tour is on page 3. A registration form is on the RIRDC website, http://www.rirdc.gov.au/ems/ .
Many thanks to our gold (RIRDC, Murray Darling Basin Commission, Queensland EPA, NSW Agriculture) silver (AFFA, Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, Primary Industries & Resources South Australia) and bronze (NATA/NCSI, QAS) sponsors and supporters Traprock Wool and the Australian Farm Journal.
A Pre-Conference Workshop
Would you like to have an in-depth look at some exciting new tools that you could use for environmental benchmarking of farms in your area? Participants at this interactive workshop will receive a full set of the "Environmental Best Management Practices on Farms?" tools to take home and trial in their area including information on the self rating process, feedback graphs and data collection system.
Developed with input from farmers, industry and agency staff, this project allows farmers to assess how well they are operating in environmental management. Focussed predominantly on the management of grazing, cropping and dairy properties these tools also allow farmers to prioritise their actions and plan for continual improvement.
Date: Monday 5th November 2001 Time: 6:30pm-8pm Location: Ballina RSL Club (River St, Ballina) RSVP: By Monday 22nd October 2001 to Ingrid Waymouth or Jacki Mulley ph: (03) 5573 0781.
The workshop will run with a maximum of 40 participants. For general inquiries about the project or workshop please call Geoff McFarlane (03) 5226 4722 or Kathryne Trewick (03) 5573 0725.
And another Pre-conference Workshop!
Wrestling with Minimum Performance Standards
On Monday 5th November 2001 (i.e. before the conference), there will be a half day workshop on minimum performance standards and criteria at the Ballina RSL Club. Sponsored by the Murray Darling Basin Commission, participation will be limited to the first 40 people to register. During the workshop, it is planned to identify and discuss possible minimum standards and criteria that could be used as the basis for developing catchment and farm level certification systems. The program for the workshop is as follows: To register for this workshop please contact Sharon Rochow by phone on (08) 8303 8419, by fax on (08) 8303 8590, by email at Sharon.Rochow@adl.clw. csiro.au, or by mail at the Policy and Economic Research Unit, CSIRO Land and Water. PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA. 5064.
Two International Conference Announcements
Two International Conference Announcements - “EMS - From implementation to communication: Enhancing the role of local communities, and forms for sustainable territorial development” an OECD Conference on Territorial Environmental Management Systems is to be held 25-27 March 2002 in Salsomaggiore, Italy (was previously to be held October 2001). See http://www.oecd.org/tds/confdetails/confEMS.h tm for more details.
The 10th International Conference of the Greening of Industry Network is to be held in Goteburg, Sweden, June 23-26,2002. The Conference title is "Corporate Social Responsibility - Governance for Sustainability". See www.GIN2002.miljo.chalmers.se for more details.
Forthcoming RIRDC Project Report on EMS
A RIRDC project report on EMS is due to be released in November, and the research findings are to be presented at the Ballina EMS Conference to be held between 6 and 8 November.
This report presents information on EMS, as well as a range of other voluntary environmental management arrangements, or VEMAs, for agriculture and allied rural industries. The report discusses the relationships and compatibilities between EMS and other voluntary arrangements undertaken for the purposes of environmental management, as well as for quality assurance and food safety purposes.
Interest in such voluntary approaches is gathering momentum in Australia and overseas.
This research sheds light on international developments in a rapidly evolving area that holds much promise for agriculture and rural industries.
The report is authored by Thea Mech and Mike Young of the Policy and Economic Research Unit (PERU) of CSIRO Land and Water in Adelaide.
Conference Program
Starting time ~ 8.30 am all days
Potential to visit Rocky Point Prawn Farm, developing ISO 14001 EMS at Yatala on the way back to Ballina. Depends on interest within the group.
NOTE: Refreshments, 21 seat bus and trailer hire, and lunches days 1 and 2 provided as part of the tour costs, but all accommodation, breakfasts, lunch day 3 and evening meals to be paid for by individuals.
The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing in September 2001.
However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales Department of Agriculture or the user’s independent advisor.
Recognising that some of the information in this document is provided by third parties, the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher take no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the document provided by third parties.
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