No pain, no gain: Emissions target will not be easy

Opinion by Su McCluskey, NFF Interim Chief Executive

The Federal Government’s new 2035 emissions target sets the scene for big changes in climate policy, and agriculture has a lot at stake. But let’s not kid ourselves that this will be easy.

The Federal Government has now locked in a target to reduce emissions by 62–70% below 2005 levels. That’s a big shift, and agriculture will need to keep the pressure on.

The NFF isn’t about to shy away from this reality. More than ever before, a farmer voice needs to be at the table in these policy discussions. The last thing we want to see is loading farmers with red tape and locking up productive land so other sectors can reach their emissions goals. And to be clear, this is not a target for agriculture but an economy-wide target.

Farmers are already on the front line of climate change. We know Australia is staring down the barrel of more droughts, extreme flood events and bushfires.

We need to make sure policy supports agriculture otherwise farmers will become unprofitable and food and fibre security will be compromised.

This is why the NFF is supporting the target, but we have a clear caveat: we back the net zero aspiration for the economy, but we remain firm it cannot mean net zero for agriculture.

It was heartening to see this ratified in the Agriculture and Land Sector Plan, which accompanied the 2035 emissions target announcement.

It recognises the central role of farmers in meeting the national target and points to opportunities in research, feed additives, fertilisers, on-farm electrification and more. This builds on the work farmers have already done cutting net emissions since 2005, adopting methane-reducing pastures, animal genetics, and water-saving technology.

Where things get thornier is the heavy reliance on reforestation and land-based sequestration. We know trees are part of the solution, but locking up vast areas of productive farmland currently used for food and fibre production is not the best way to do this. We need (and have in development) new technologies such as enteric methane reducing feed additives and pastures. These will become a game changer for agriculture and quite possibly the broader economy.

Any push for reforestation (preferably plantations for timber) must come with proper recognition and fair returns for the farmers asked to shoulder that burden. Done right, it could diversify farm incomes and generate regional employment. Done wrong, it risks hollowing out rural communities, risking food and fibre security at the same time.

There’s another reason this target matters: our trading markets. Australia exports about 70% of what we produce. Global buyers, particularly in Europe and Asia, are demanding proof of credible climate action. If we lag, we lose market access. If we lead, our farmers not just maintain market access, but can indeed grow it, resulting in increased profitability which is critical for Australian farmers who are among the least subsidised in the world.

The risk for farmers is not being in the room when these decisions are made. If we fight the target, the policy train will leave the station without us and decisions will be made for us, not with us. That’s dangerous.

This is why the NFF’s position is clear: we acknowledge the target, we will work with Government on pathways to achieve it and hold them to account on how it’s delivered. And we will fight to make sure farmers aren’t left carrying the can.

Farmers have always adapted to the ongoing risks that climate, market forces and social licence present and we are already at the forefront of emissions reduction, having cut our net greenhouse gas emissions significantly since 2005.

We now have the opportunity to ensure that in doing our bit to help the country meet its goals, agriculture can remain productive, profitable and competitive. But there is much work to be done.

Reaching the emissions target will not be easy, but if everyone does their bit to help Australia meet this new target, farmers will be able to keep our land productive to feed and clothe our nation for generations to come.