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Agriculture, Carbon and Climate Change
The Copenhagen Climate Summit starts today and the news and politics has been focusing on the issue of climate change in the lead up to it. In acknowledgement of the world's focus on this timely issue, this edition of the NSDA newsletter includes links to the following news articles, reports and media releases that look at some agricultural aspects of carbon emissions and solutions:
Net Carbon Position of the Queensland Beef Industry - Qld Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has released a report that discusses whether the Queensland beef industry is effectively "carbon-neutral".
Flannery backs farm animals in fight against carbon - Environmental scientist, Dr Tim Flannery, believes large animals like cattle and sheep are essential to restoring the health of the planet and reducing greenhouse gas levels. The Queensland Country Life (Vernon Graham, farmonline, 18-11-09) reports on Tim Flannery's speach at a recent Meat and Livestock Australia forum.
A farmer's field of dreams buries climate change war - Melbourne newspaper, The Age (Carmel Egan 1-11-09) reports on an Australian farmer using technology developed by Canadian company BioAgtive Technologies to inject his tractor's fossil fuel exhaust fumes directly into the ground, where they enhance the biochemical interaction between plants and soil microbes. The end result has been a reported increase in productivity while reducing carbon emmissions.
Premier opens new green technology facility in Townsville - This document is a Queensland Government media release.
Premier Anna Bligh officially opened a world-leading algal bio-fuel research and development facility at Townsville's James Cook University, that could hold the key to rapid reductions in carbon emissions from coal fired power stations as well as generating an alternative stock-feed.
Organic Federation of Australia Chairman at Copenhagen - This document is an OFA media release.
Organic Federation of Australia, Chairman, Andre Leu, will be at Copenhagen as part of a delegation that will include some of best scientists and researchers into organic systems.
‘Organic agriculture has the potential to sequester nearly all the carbon dioxide that is generated by human activities. It has the ability to sequester 37 gigatonnes of the 38 gigatonnes CO2 produced every year.' Andre stated.
Beneficial Green Ants
There's probably few of us who haven't yelled the occassional four letter word or done a crazy dance across the backyard or paddock while stripping off layers of clothing after an encounter with green ants. But at other times, who hasn't stopped to watch the teamwork of green ants while carrying insects, caterpillars, and other prey back to a nest. Ever wondered how much of an effect the colony of green ants is having on the control of pests in your crops or timber plantations?
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation has recently released a report on studies undertaken by Charles Darwin University to investigate the benefits of green ants in African Mahogony timber crops (it is noted that more research needs to be done for other tropical timber species such as Red Cedar). A copy of the report titled Green Ants as Biological Control Agents in Agroforestry can be down loaded or purchased from the RIRDC website.
This follows on from previous research undertaken by Charles Darwin University that investigated the addition of green ants into an Integrated Pest Management system for mango plantations. A copy of that report titled Integrated Pest Management for Mango Orchards using green ants as a major component is available for downloading from the Northern Territory government website.
Both reports conclude that there are definitely economic benefits that can be achieved by managing green ant colonies within crops. And the report also offers tips on how to stop the little buggers from attacking you when working in the orchard!!
Market Research for Tropical Fruit Wine The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation has also recently released a report titled Markets for Tropical Fruit Wine Products which is availble for downloading or purchase from the RIRDC website.
RIRDC states that "Markets for Tropical Fruit Wine Products describes the current and potential market for fruit wines in Australia and Japan, and provides information on fruit wine markets in 37 other countries and several regions. The report also looks at the strategies needed to develop existing and new markets.
The report finds that the best prospect for market development in the short to medium term is for industry to focus attention on residents of the tropical fruit wine producing regions, predominantly in north Queensland, and visitors from other countries to these regions, including Japan, America, the United Kingdom and Germany."
The report may be useful for anyone interested in regional food tourism, or tropical fruit wine production, marketing and sales.
The Queensland Chef 2009-2010
As part of the Queensland Primary Industry and Fisheries Gourmet Food Project, the current Queensland Chef, David Pugh, is preparing a blog to showcase the best of Queensland produce with a specific focus on tropical foods. The blog includes information and recipes on key, seasonal ingredients (great for Christmas celebrations).
The role of the Queensland Chef is to work with Primary Industries and Fisheries to profile Queensland produce, industries and primary producers. This blog is aimed at consumers, however, on a broader level the Gourment Food Project has opportunities for chefs, growers and producers to network and get involved in promoting quality regional produce to a wider market.
For more information contact:
Kaye Nunan
Principal Food Industry Development Officer
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Telephone: 07 3239 3254 Facsimile: 07 3239 3504
Email: kaye.nunan@deedi.qld.gov.au
Website: www.dpi.qld.gov.au Information Centre: 13 25 23
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