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Developing a National Certification Process
for Environmental Management in Australian AgricultureBy Philippa Rowland, (Australia 21 Scholar), Mike Waller, Geoff Gorrie and Bob Douglas (Directors Australia 21)
October 2005
RIRDC Publication No 05/157 RIRDC Project No MS056-04
Background
Australia 21 in collaboration
with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries held
a roundtable in March 2005. This initial roundtable identified the need
for an options paper on certification and information systems and the need
to consult with key stakeholders on the feasibility of developing national
coherence and convergence on these matters. The Rural Industries Research
and Development Corporation funded the development of an options paper
and an industry roundtable to consider it. The following report provides
both the options paper and the consultation outcomes.
Research
An options paper that built
from recent Australian experience with Environmental Management Systems
(EMS) and current national agricultural monitoring systems was prepared
by a team from Australia 21 with input from a steering group with representation
both from agri-political bodies and from three state departments of primary
industry. The paper, which is included in this report, was then circulated
to a group of stakeholders who were invited to respond to it. Thirty-five
written responses were received and distributed to the forty-six participants.
After the Roundtable a consensus statement was prepared and further modified
in the light of comments. This is also contained in this report.
Outcomes
There is now an opportunity
for Australia to move towards a national approach to environmental certification
of the use of Australia's agricultural land resources. Such a certification
system would be internationally credible and underpinned by a national
information management system providing a real basis for long-term adaptive
management.
The issues involved in developing the system are complex. However, there was good agreement in the diverse group as to what the main features of a national system should be. The task requires convergence in some of the activities both of the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and the Natural Resources Management Ministerial Council. It also requires ongoing commitment by the Federal Government to the strong start it has made through the National Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, as well as the funds that have been committed to the industry based Environmental Management Systems.
A system of certification that is imposed from the top down will neither meet the requirements nor be adopted. The Australian framework for agricultural certification should build on the enthusiasm, skills, interests and needs of Australia's landholders. The evolving national framework should seek to harmonize certification and working systems for the property manager and build on the interests and enthusiasm that have been generated through the pilot activities in recent years. An underlying principle needs to be to reduce complexity.
Developing this national approach will need to pay attention both to agricultural management processes and environmental outcomes. It would build on a dynamic relationship between landholders and catchments and on a coherent national approach to collection of information that can be used to judge progress in meeting environmental targets. Part of the process should be to provide proof of stewardship and recognition of progress towards sustainability. It should also be able to substantiate claims of good environmental management and support individuals to improve environmental performance.
The development of a credible framework, a national “brand” and a voluntary certification process that offers farmers tiered entry will require the creation of a new network of stakeholders. This network would bring together the interests of farmers, catchment authorities, and state and federal agencies with responsibility both for primary industry and natural resource management.
Development of such a network is in the national interest and its cost cannot be borne either by the market or by producers alone.
Implications Australia is well placed to become an international pacesetter in the development of internationally credible certification in agriculture and in the streamlining of certification procedures. Such a certification system will bring substantial benefits to the nation and will enable Australian farmers to be on the front foot on the environmental impact of agriculture.
The opportunity exists to build on the momentum that has been established in recent years as a result of federally funded projects on Environmental Management Systems, and related investments by industry, by state governments and the rural research corporations. Building on existing schemes towards a national approach could provide Australian products with a market edge.
The group of stakeholders at the Australia 21 Roundtable in August 2005 agreed that there is pressing need for 'statesmanlike' national leadership to formalise and establish the development process; and that an expanded Pathways to Industry EMS Advisory Committee is an appropriate body to provide this leadership.
 
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