RICE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The rice industry is one of the most proactive agricultural industries in the area of environmental management.

Our industry was the first to initiate a project to return water to the environment through the Living Murray initiative, delivering more than 12,000 megalitres to the river system. We were the first agricultural sector in Australia to develop a regional biodiversity strategy, and the first to develop a greenhouse reduction strategy for growers.

The Rice Growing Industry is committed to environmental best practice, the 'Environmental Champions Program' has been given funding assistance to collaborate with our local partners on a number of projects that improve the industry’s environmental performance.

The Environmental Champions Program (ECP) has been a very successful sustainability reporting program for the rice industry. A range of factors including a lack of funding, drought and changes in how rice farm businesses operate has meant that the original cluster group model has become unworkable. 

The RGA is currently working with SunRice to develop and implement an internationally recognised Sustainability-BMP program. This program will replace the original ECP. Until this is finalised, important components of the ECP will be delivered by the RGA in conjunction with Rice Extension.  

For more information about any of these projects, please contact our Environmental Projects Manager, Neil Bull: 
Tel: 02 6953 0433 or 0428 603 557
Email: [email protected]