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ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS PROGRAM

An Innovative Approach to Environmental Change

A total industry commitment to change underpinned by innovative leadership has resulted in the Australian Rice Industry becoming a recognised leader in meeting environmental challenges.

Environmental Champions is a five level achievement program that guides growers through a series of activities. Each level contains different actions to gain credit under a program linking on-farm action with catchment improvement. The program design is to connect environmental performance with better farm business performance.

The program brings together the many and somewhat complex regional environmental requirements into a streamlined user-friendly process. Although based on EMS principles, the thinking of the industry goes beyond this. While conscious of the need for flexibility, the Champions program sets the bar for industry standards in environmental performance.

The Environmental Champions Program for rice-based systems is unique in the degree of cooperation it has had in its development. Rice growers, various government agencies and organisations have come together and collectively agreed on a pathway to environmental excellence.

In brief, the Rice Environmental Champions Program contains five levels that will recognise growers for their environmental stewardship.

Level 1: Basic Industry Standards
Entry level involves a range of legislative and policy targets. Most farmers will find they are already undertaking some of these actions. Activities will include chemical training & storage, irrigation education, meeting crop delivery standards and irrigation licence requirements and no net loss of vegetation.

Level 2: Planning for Beyond Industry Standards
Planning and establishing strategies that will enable responsible environmental management. Activities will include identifying risks on farm, better water use efficiency, ground monitoring, off farm drainage, planning, improved stubble management and undertaking a whole farm plan.

Level 3: Putting Plans into Action & Enhancing Biodiversity on Farm
Putting those plans developed in Level 2 into practice. A large focus of Level 3 is on biodiversity activities. Activities will include farm planning, biodiversity recovery, addressing salinity and soils issues and undertaking some greenhouse reduction activities.

Level 4: Trade, Innovation & Eco-Efficiencies
Incorporate activities that provide a financial return to the grower as well as an environmental return. Activities will include energy efficiency, renewable use and generation, addressing waste and water and reducing greenhouse gases.

Level 5: Regional Efforts Towards Catchment Sustainability
Growers work in conjunction with others to achieve environmental outcomes for the whole region, not just on their farm. Activities may include looking at land use options on a regional scale, engaging in carbon & salinity trade and addressing other landscape and river issues.

“A healthy farm environment is important for the long-term success of our business. For us, the program highlights the things we can do on our land that is simple to implement and is widely recognised as having positive ecological outcomes”
Mr Marsden, Rice grower, Finley

Voluntary Pilot Groups Lead the Way

The Industry has commenced the program through a number of voluntary pilot groups from across the region. Two hundred and forty growers will fine-tune the program to ensure it is adaptable, realistic and relevant across each of the irrigation regions. The participating growers are joining the trial knowing that they are part of an experiment in change.

Monitoring grower’s progress is based on the following:

• Level of participation,
• Knowledge and capacity for dealing with environmental issues,
• Adoption of new procedures on farm,
• And environmental improvements and efficiencies gained.

A broader roll out of the program will take place in 2004 with the aim of meeting the rigorous participation targets of 50% of all rice growers having achieved Level 3 recognition within 10 years. The growers themselves have set this target, which demonstrates their commitment to the sustainability of this innovative industry.

RICE & THE ENVIRONMENT
 Environmental Policy
 Environmental Champions Program
 Biodiversity Strategy and Plan
 Greenhouse Strategy
 Water and our Natural Resources

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