Understanding the Elements and Adoption of Environmental Best Practice in Horticulture
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Understanding the elements and adoption of environmental best practice in horticulture Arthur Andersen Project Number: AH00018 AH00018 This report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass on information concerning horticultural research and development undertaken for Australian Horticulture. The research contained in this report was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd with the financial support of all levy paying industries. All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as expressing the opinion of Horticulture Australia Ltd or any authority of the Australian Government. The Company and the Australian Government accept no responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this report and readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. ISBN 0 7341 0459 6 Published and distributed by: Horticultural Australia Ltd Level 1 50 Carrington Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 E-Mail: [email protected] © Copyright 2002 Horticulture Australia Contents Part 1: Executive Summary Part 2: Report Part 3: A guide to implementation Part 4: Appendices • Horticulture Australia ANDERSEN Introduction Understanding the elements and adoption The expected outcomes of the best practice of environmental best practice in study were to: horticulture' is a joint initiative of Horticulture • Gather information on management Australia limited (HAL) and the National practices which help minimise the Land and Water Resources Audit (a Natural impact of Australian horticulture on the Heritage Trust project). This project forms environment at industry and regional part of the second stage of the 'Horticulture levels; Environmental Audit'. • Gain an understanding of the capacity Stage 1 commenced in 1999 with the and willingness of growers to adopt purpose of documenting the use of natural sustainable practices; resources by horticulture, assessing the extent of current impacts on those • Develop guidelines for the consistent resources, assessing the adoption of good implementation of codes of practice environmental management (GEM) which embody the practices identified practices and the need for more sustainable above; management practices. • Develop an improved basis for In commissioning Stage 2 of the project, comparing the benefits of horticulture to HAL sought to build on this with two further regional economies and to natural studies: resource sustainability with those of other rural industries; and 1. Understand the nature and breadth of GEM practices and the capacity of • Assist the industry to be better Australian horticulture to adopt such positioned to negotiate policy about practices (The Best Practice Study); and issues of national and international trade as they relate to the environment. 2. Develop plans to increase Australian horticulture's capacity to capture, store, Andersen was commissioned in April 2001 assess and make available relevant to undertake the Best Practice Study. The information on natural resource following information summarises the management, including information approach, results and key findings of the generated externally to HAL's activities project and identifies options that could be (The Information Study). considered in developing a forward strategy for the horticulture sector. Approach 2. National Industry Consultation. Twenty-one meetings with growers and stakeholders were held in various locations in all states of Australia. In total 230 individuals participated in the meetings including growers, agribusiness companies, processors, agricultural supply companies, researchers (private and public), industry development officers (IDOs), representatives of industry associations, extension officers, environmental professionals and academics. An objective of the consultation phase was to ensure as broad a range of commodity The project team sought to identify groups as possible were consulted and as principles, practices and strategies that are such, representatives from all major relevant across all horticulture groups. An horticultural groups were involved in the emphasis was placed on the importance of consultation phase. The findings from understanding the target audience for consultation have been used to develop a guidelines, [their] specific needs and the model of the change processes in specific environmental solutions required. horticulture and how best to positively influence this process. The strategic approach included a literature review, consultation program and case 3. Case Study Development. study appraisals as described below. During the consultation phase, case studies 1. A Review of Domestic and International were identified as examples of the effective Literature. implementation of GEM. These case studies are indicative of progressive models in the The literature review included: principles, tools or drivers of environmental • Identification of the GEM practices for management. Three case studies have horticulture being applied in Australia been profiled as examples of innovative and globally; environmental management: • Identification and exploration of • The Goulburn-Broken Floodplain documented characteristics of and Rehabilitation Scheme (case study of a approaches to change management in regional initiative); the rural sector; and • The Enviroveg Project (case study of an • Investigation of the drivers for change in industry initiative); and horticulture. • Abbotsleigh Citrus (case study of an award-winning enterprise). 2 Key Findings Elements of Good state government policies and waste disposal was of higher concern in rural Environmental production zones. While this trend may be Management related to awareness raised by existing environmental programs, it highlights the Central to achieving environmental importance of local knowledge and outcomes for the horticulture sector is to information in the development of ensure consistent content in environmental environmental programs. programs. The dominant environmental issues facing the horticulture sector in a Decision-making frameworks specific region should guide the selection of A decision-making framework is a content for environmental initiatives. formalised process for assessing, managing Elements of GEM for the horticulture sector and monitoring the financial, personal, can be summarised into decision-making social and environmental variables in the frameworks and GEM practices. production process. An effective decision making framework facilitates proper medium Environmental issues facing the to long-term financial planning. This relative horticulture sector financial stability enables quality The regional workshops highlighted that environmental outcomes to be achieved. water issues, chemical use, biodiversity and Examples of decision-making frameworks soil erosion (shown in red in Table 1) were include: of concern across Australia and should be • Environmental management systems regarded as high priority. However, other (EMS); environmental issues raised demonstrated that these concerns are often regional or • Quality assurance (QA) programs; commodity based. For example urban encroachment often dominated discussion • Total catchment management at meetings held on the outskirts of major strategies; and cities (Windsor, Nambour, and Perth), • Whole farm planning initiatives. GMOs were topical in Tasmania due to Concemouer Environmental Issues -r. | S B f V-1 •:• 5 1 { S 15 15 I ••, j I 2 D § -.1- 1 i I 8 IT) 1.. f •:<•) 1 pa 1 e Q ? £ 11. I i 1 i i >• g ! C & i I •S - J C Li 1 ra I •j-> !.•: •1'? Ragicnil Wfcrfcshop: ! i i s 1 1 I j i a 3 -5 ! 6 : i i Nuibour Sowers (OLD) 1 t Windsor Satehdders (NSW) Oriffth Growers (N3Wj High Priorty Itewriport Growers (T£S) Sheppaitgn Combined (VIC) H ****'*» Biirdabern Growers f'iLD'i I Lout Priorty rbnbcur St Scolders (OLD) SoUh Johraone Combined (Q.LD) Windsor Growers (NSW) Griflth SAehclders (NSW) > Osnuin Combined (NT) Kurununa Combined |WA) Hobait Stakeholders (Tf6) i§~ Hp Lainaeiton Stakeholders fTAS) Perth S*ehokle!s<>M=j) II The selection of an appropriate decision • Pest, insect, weed and disease making framework hinges on a variety of management; factors but particularly scale. Some • Air; frameworks may be universally implemented (such as environmental • Noise; management systems) while others require • Waste; and a more specialised approach that is applicable at industry or regional levels (e.g. • Biodiversity. total catchment management). A widely Specific elements of GEM tend to vary recognised method is a systems-based based on the current critical issues affecting approach (Figure 1) which focuses on the: a region, the industry or industries involved • Type, quality and quantity of inputs; as well as financial, social, cultural and • Complex transformation processes institutional factors. Environmental occurring in production; and management has very few generic, prescriptive solutions. Environmental • Type, quality and quality of outputs. programs should be tailored to the industry A systems approach promotes a clear and region involved. Local solutions have understanding of the important variables the greatest chance of increasing on-farm affecting the horticulture sector and their adoption and achieving significant external impacts. Understanding these environmental outcomes. This study has variables and external impacts may found that local and industry research and encourage more effective farm management consultation should be