Methane Emissions

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the state government's role in projects that are helping to reduce methane emissions?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his important question and his interest in these important matters. I am pleased to advise the chamber that the Department for Primary Industries and Regions will play a key role in two projects to conduct long-term grazing studies to investigate the efficacy of methane-reducing feed additives in grazing livestock. The two successful projects were recently announced under round 3 of the Australian government's $29 million Methane Emissions Reduction in Livestock program, sometimes known as MERiL.

Of course, reducing methane emissions from livestock has an important role in our overall response to climate change. Methane emissions from livestock account for about 14 per cent of our state's total greenhouse gas emissions, and there is growing impetus—as well as awareness—from livestock producers to reduce methane emissions to secure market access, to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to align with government and industry targets.

Research in this field continues at pace and it is fantastic to see South Australia, through PIRSA and SARDI, as well as the University of Adelaide, taking such a key role. One of the two projects is a PIRSA collaboration with project lead, the University of Adelaide, which was successfully awarded $1.075601 million for a project that will investigate the effect of administering seaweed supplement to pregnant cows and the effect of methane production in their offspring.

The other round 3 MERiL project involving PIRSA is a collaboration between the University of New England, PIRSA, Australian Wool Innovation, Feedworks and the University of Western Australia to evaluate the efficacy of an automated in-paddock feeding system for the delivery of methane-reducing feed additives to grazing sheep. Both projects will commence later this year and continue into 2025, with research taking place both on government owned research centres as well as privately owned commercial demonstration sites.

In my time as minister, I have been fortunate to meet a range of people and businesses who are involved in projects and programs that look to reduce methane emissions. We have seen partnerships emerge in this space in our state between seaweed producers, feedlots and meat processors, all with a common goal of reducing emissions and building towards creating a market that has the potential for huge worldwide growth, as the world's largest companies look for more and more ethically and sustainably sourced produce within their supply chains.

The opportunities and potential are limitless, and South Australia will be at the front of the pack to take advantage of these opportunities through the foresight and dedication of many within the aquaculture and livestock industries, supported by research and development that will be assisted by the state government.