Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries - CCRSPI

Summary

Climate change presents challenges and opportunities for Australian primary industries. The most effective response includes coordinated research, development and extension across sectors and regions.
The Climate Change Research Strategy for Primar Industries (CCRSPI) was established in 2007 under the mandate of the then Primary Industries Ministerial Council. It is one of several cross-sectoral strategies that sit under the National Research Development and Extension Framework.
On April 4 2008, the RDC Executive Directors met to consider progress and funding of the National Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI), an initiative that has arisen as part of the RDC's involvement in the Primary Industry Standing Committee on Research and Developmhent..A five year strategy ran from 2012 – 2017.
CCRSPI is a collaboration between the rural research and development corporations, the CSIRO, state and territory governments and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. CCRSPI partners work together, sharing knowledge and experience, to shape research investments so that they deliver maximum value for primary industries.
CCRSPI partners fund and manage research according to the specific needs of their industry and region. However, for primary industries to address the challenges and opportunities arising from climate change, a wide range of research, development and extension is needed.
A comprehensive agenda is beyond the capacity of one investor. Taking a collaborative approach across sectors and regions maximises the value of the collective research investment.
While CCRSPI does not invest in research directly, it brings partners together to discuss their research activities and to identify priorities for future investment and collaboration.
CCRSPI is guided by a Research, Development and Extension Strategy. Guided by the themes and principles in the Strategy partners continue to work together to:prioritise and direct their research funds on priority climate change researchidentify key research organisations and specific skills and capacitycollaborate on research projects and activitiescommunicate with government and policy makers on key climate change issues facing the primary industries sector.
CCRSPI was established in 2007 under the mandate of the then Primary Industries Ministerial Council. It is one of several cross-sectoral strategies that sit under the National Research Development and Extension Framework.
This summary of the key CCRSPI activities between 2012 and 2016 has been prepared by RIRDC in their capacity as CCRSPI secretariat.Key CCRSPI Activities
On-going collaboration and knowledge sharing
The CCRSPI Partners met regularly throughout the 2012-2016 period and shared information on climate change priorities and investments. This included regular steering committee meetings, partners meetings and annual partner forums.
Additionally several webinars have been conducted for partners which facilitated further discussion and collaboration; for example what the implications of the latest climate change research and policies are for agriculture.
Collectively these collaborative engagements led to improved collaboration within research projects; for example giving rise to a better understanding of the impacts of climate extremes on primary industries.
CCRSPI National Conferences
Two CCRSPI national conferences were held between 2012 and 2016. The CCRSPI 2012 conference was held on 27-29 November 2012 in Melbourne and the CCRSPI 2016 conference was held in Sydney on 27-28 April 2016.
Both conferences were very successful and they were well attended by a variety of delegates from a range of industries and sectors including, government, agribusiness, policy, producers, researchers and research managers and feedback from delegates was very positive.
The conferences discussed the future of the Australian agriculture under climate change and provided insights into how different primary industries are showing leadership and responding to the opportunities and challenges posed by climate change. In bringing together stakeholders from right across the value chain the conferences also provided delegates a unique opportunity to network, share and discuss information, and therefore collaborate on climate and climate change issues affecting primary industries.
Presentations from the CCRSPI 2016 conference – Primary Industries Building Climate Resilience are available for download from the CCRSPI websitehttp://www.ccrspi.net.au/presentations
CCRSPI Database
The CCRSPI database is a census of climate change research undertaken in Australia by CCRSPI Partners and relevant to primary industries. It captures high level information on the climate change research projects and investments made by the partners. The database provides an ongoing opportunity for partners to update and share information on their climate change projects, priorities and investments, and to work collaboratively and synergistically in this space.
CCRSPI Audits
To enable partners to better identify and analyse research investments across the three CCRSPI outcomes and 10 themes outlined in the CCRSPI strategy two research audits have been completed during the 2012-2016 period.  This includes the 2012 audit of CCRSPI research investments and the 2015/16 audit which used the CCRSPI database as a tool.