Queensland producers’ climate resilience efforts bolstered by new projects

Nine innovative projects to help Queensland primary producers better manage drought and climate impacts will be funded through the Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP).

Agriculture and Fisheries and Rural Economic Development Minister Bill Byrne said the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment of $17.5 million would fund nine projects over five years.

“While variable climate is a way of life in Queensland, the Palaszczuk Government is focused on funding programs that will assist our producers in the long-term,” Minister Byrne said.

“The Drought and Climate Adaptation Program is bringing together the best climate scientists, and cutting-edge researchers in the state to work with the government and industry leaders

“The projects being announced today with lead to improved seasonal forecasts, assess the economic implications of drought management decisions, identify barriers to drought preparedness, work on more affordable agricultural insurance products and use paleo-climate research to improve climate risk decision-making.

“With more than 66 per cent of Queensland drought-declared and some producers now in their fifth year of drought, it’s vital that we do what we can to improve drought preparedness and resilience for Queensland producers.”

These projects are:

• Northern Australia Climate Program
• The inside edge for graziers to master Queensland’s drought-prone climate
• Delivering integrated production and economic knowledge and skills to improve drought management outcomes for grazing systems
• Use of BoM multi-week and seasonal forecasts to facilitate improved management decisions in Queensland’s vegetable industry
• Do we really know our baseline climate? Using paleoclimate data to plan and prepare for extreme events and floods in Queensland
• Enabling drought resilience and adaptation: A program of social research and knowledge support
• Producing enhanced crop insurance systems and associated financial decision support tools (Phase 2)
• GrazingFutures: promoting a resilient grazing industry
• Forewarned is forearmed: equipping farmers and agricultural value chains to proactively manage the impacts of extreme climate events.

Minister Byrne said the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation (DSITI), the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) would be making additional funding contributions to their projects.

“These projects will link into the Queensland Drought Mitigation Centre which will improve our understanding of droughts and will help producers better prepare for them,” he said.

“While dry conditions are a part of agriculture, droughts can have adverse economic, environmental and social impacts.

“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government continues to work with industry to develop a suite of measures to help producers improve their climate risk management and long-term preparedness strategies.

“This suite of information will assist producers’ with their farm management plans.

“We will all benefit from the long-term productivity of the agri-business sector.”

To find out more about DCAP, call the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23, or visit the websites www.daf.qld.gov.au or www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au.

Media: 0417 768 626