Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme trial

The Federal Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment has provided $4m in funding to the National Farmers’ Federation to develop and trial the Scheme. Funding has been made available through the $34m Agriculture Stewardship Package.

The package recognises that farmers, as stewards of the environment and as land managers are providing benefits to the wider community. Many small and medium sized farmers would like to do more, and the Australian Government is taking the lead to support further stewardship activities by farmers.

The Australia Farm Institute has been contracted to deliver the Phase 1 report. More information on the AFI consultation process is available here.

• Phase 2 will be completed by the end of June 2021 and will involve the development of a certification/verification scheme as well as detailed consultation across a number of commodities and geographic regions.
• Phase 3 will be completed by mid 2022 and will be an assessment of readiness by farmers to participate in such a scheme, and a small trial of the certification/verification system.

The overall objectives identified for the Australian Farm Biodiversity Certification Scheme Trial include: 

• Integrate productivity, sustainability and biodiversity on Australian farms to provide lasting benefits to farmers and the community.
• Ensure Australian farmers can showcase best practice sustainability/biodiversity management of natural resources – and ensure these actions are recognisable by the community and other farmers.

Forums

Registration is now open for Industry and Stakeholder forums. After the initial desk review of international and domestic options, the resulting catalogue of schemes will be presented to stakeholders for feedback via open group to assist in determining desirable and non-desirable elements of relevant schemes in relation to their applicability to Australian agriculture.

10 forums and 2 online webinars will be held. Registration is free however RSVP is required.

Forums will run from 9am – 1pm local time:

• Southern Qld / Northern NSW – 31/03/2020
• Northern Queensland – 03/04/2020
• Central West NSW – 07/04/2020
• Northern Australia/Kimberly – 09/04/2020
• Gippsland – 23/04/2020
• Tasmania – 22/04/2020
• South Australia – 28/04/2020
• Wimmera – 29/04/2020
• NSW Riverina – 30/04/2020
• Central Queensland – 07/05/2020

Webinars will run from 2pm-4pm AEST:

**Please note that both webinars full.

• WEBINAR 1 – 23/04/2020 – fully subscribed**
• WEBINAR 2 – 04/05/2020 – fully subscribed**

The project will consult with an agricultural industry Stakeholder Reference Group, which comprises of representatives from the following organisations:

• Grain Growers Limited
• CANEGROWERS
• Sheep Producers Australia
• Cotton Australia
• Cattle Council of Australia
• Australian Farmers for Climate Action
• Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia
• AgForce Queensland Farmers Limited
• Victorian Farmers Federation
• NSW Farmers’ Association
• NRM Regions