Climate Champion Strategy 2010

Summary

Australia’s primary industries are projected to be significantly affected by climate variability. The impacts must be understood so that primary industry can minimise risk and maximise opportunities.

The Climate Champion program reflects the fact that most farmers gain new knowledge and adopt new practices through interaction with respected peers. Participants are leading farmers who are knowledgeable about, and interested and active in managing climate variability and change.
Participants have made national and local strategic links with farmers, researchers, and policymakers. They have been involved in organising and speaking at workshops and conferences, field and demonstration days, and field trials. Participants have been recognised and nominated for industry prizes, scholarships and awards. The participants have also appeared in over 100 media articles, radio stories and TV spots.

Although drought and floods have affected participants, and all are busy running their enterprises, they are all still active and keen to participate in the program. They are eager to be involved with research about practices and new climate information that they can disseminate to their growing networks. Each participant is currently developing a plan for their activities for 2011.

Their activities are directed towards engaging with other meat and livestock producers about how to manage climate variability. By disseminating this information, participants are helping others choose practices that will assist with staying profitable and sustainable in the face of increasing climate variability.