Grain Industry

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister please update the chamber on how South Australia is leading the nation in using technology to measure and assist in reducing on-farm emissions for grain producers?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for her question. I am very pleased to advise the chamber that technology to measure and assist in reducing on-farm emissions for grain producers will be trialled in South Australia in what is a national first. The technology is called FLINTpro and it allows Australian farmers to evaluate, benchmark and communicate the environmental footprint of their production. For the first time in Australia, FLINTpro for Farms will be used by grain producers.

FLINTpro for Farms technology uses a cradle-to-farm-gate approach, measuring not only the greenhouse gas output of on-farm activities but also the embedded emissions that are found elsewhere in the supply chain—for example, in fertilisers, chemicals and diesel.

It also allows farmers to assess their environmental performance against regional benchmark data and to monitor environmental aspects beyond greenhouse gas emissions. The trial of FLINTpro for Farms in South Australia under a project called Target Net Zero for Farms will aim to create a system for grain producers to confidently and efficiently measure and report farm emissions and will involve 10 farms. Producers will apply the best practices in farm emissions reporting, tailored to their own grain operations.

It is another great example of the partnership between this government and the grains industry. This trial will be jointly funded by state government and Grain Producers SA and will be delivered by GPSA through the Mullion Group. On completion of the trial, it will be evaluated for potential to roll out to grain producers more broadly so that producers can gather valuable data about their own environmental footprint.

Putting it very simply, for producers to reduce their carbon emissions, they of course must first know what their carbon footprint is. The trial of this technology right here in South Australia using 10 of our grain producers will help find a credible, reliable solution to understanding a farm's environmental footprint that is applicable to South Australian conditions. I say well done to FLINTpro and well done to GPSA.