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the ARCHIBULL PRIZE THE PROGRAM Farmers and the community working together for a sustainable future
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working together for a
sustainable future
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To yield a nourishing masterpiece, we must first experience all the glorious colours and textures on the farming palette.
The Archibull Prize a no bull art and design challenge is an Art4Agriculture initiative which is supported by the following organisations; -
Media sponsor:
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Contents Introduction 4
Presentation Day Prizes and Awards 5
Your Archie is Coming 6
Assessment Tasks 7 - 13
Program Connections 14
Introduction 16
Project Background 16
Feeding Sydney 17
Natural Resource Management 19
Fast Facts 20 - 22
Water for Life 22 - 24
Future Landscapes 24 - 27
Climate Ready 28 - 29
Did you know? 30
Web links 31 - 33
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Introduction Welcome to the 2011 Archibull Prize – a no bull art and design challenge!
The Archibull Prize is an Art4Agriculture initiative which is supported by Woolworths Ltd
Project Aim:The aim of the Archibull Prize is to bring the next generation of consumers and rural producers together to build trust and confidence in modern Australian farm production systems.
Project Objectives• Inspirecreativethinkingaroundthetheme“WhatittakestofeedSydneyforadaysustainably”• Provideaplatformforfarmersandstudentstoconnect,sharestoriesandimproveunderstandingof
modern farming practices and work through potential solutions together. • Toprovideanopportunityforstudentstoengageingenuinefarmexperiences,gainknowledgeandskills
abouttheproductionofthefoodtheyeat,fibrestheyuseandtheenvironmenttheylivein.• Togivestudentsavoicethroughtheirartworkandnotonlypromotetheprogramanditskeymessages
tohundredsofthousandsofpeople,buttoshowcasethestudents’opinions,learningsandvaluestothecommunity.
• Communicatetostudents,schools,andteachersandparentsAustralianfarmersaresustainabilityinnovators.
• Engagethelocalcommunityinapositiveandinteractiveproject.
How Does the Project Work?The Archibull Prize will engage primary and secondary school students in agricultural and environmental awarenessthroughart,design,creativityandteamworkby:• Providingablank,life-sizedfibreglasscoworcalfforstudentstocreateanartworkonortouseasthe
subject of an artwork which focuses on the following theme:-
“Bridging the Rural - Urban Divide – What does it take to feed Sydney for a day sustainably”
• Givingeachschooltheirowncommodity(primaryindustry)toexploreandshowcasei.e.Dairy,Beef,Sheep,Cotton,andGrains.
• Supplyingaresourcekitwithcurricularconnections.• SupplyingMatissepaints• Connectingfarmersandindustryexpertsinvolvedinsustainableagricultureprojects,withstudents.
The Archibull Prize − Reward for EffortSchoolsareeligibletowinprizestotalling$3,000.
A presentation and awards day will be held in December 2011 at the conclusion of the Archibull Prize.
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Presentation Day Prizes and AwardsPrizes will be awarded in the following categories:• BestCow-$500• BestBlog-$500• BestProjectVideo-$500• BestPowerPoint-$500• OverallWinningSchool–ArchibullPrize-$1000
Bovine Billboards On Public Display A public exhibition is planned to run from the conclusion of the December Awards Ceremony and leading into the2012SydneyRoyalEasterShow.TheaimisthatthispublicexhibitionwillincludetheBaulkhamHillsShireCouncilarea,SydneyCityCouncilarea,WoolworthsHeadOfficeandotherlocationstobeconfirmed.
Please note: Each Archibull artwork will be displayed with an artwork analysis to be submitted with the Archibull Prize entry. This analysis is to be a brief summary of what the artwork represents and how it links to the theme.
Sydney Royal Easter Show TheprojectorganiserwillbeworkingwiththeRoyalAgriculturalSocietyofNSW(RAS)withaviewtotheBlueRibbonbullstravellingtothecityin2012,tobecomestarsattheSydneyRoyalEasterShow.
WhenTheBullsComeHomeAftertheRoyalEasterShow,bullswillbereturnedtoschoolsfordisplayinaprominentplace,ortheycanbeauctioned as a school fund-raiser.
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Your Archie is ComingTheArchibullPrizeaimstobeahighlymotivationalproject,whichcatersformanylearningstylesanddifferencesinstudententrylevels,encouragingthedevelopmentofbigideasthroughco-operationandteamwork.
The Challenge...Createanartworkthatincorporatesyourallocatedcommodity(primaryindustry)andwhyitisimportanttoSydney families and the community. The finished artworks and curricula activities must also explore and communicate stories about the importance of a sustainable approach to feeding Sydney. Your artwork will be part of an exhibition so that your insight is passed on to the community.
How it Works...Eachschoolwillbeprovidedwithalifesizefibreglasscoworcalfonwhichthestudentscreateanartworkabouttheirallocatedcommodityarea,thefarmerswhoproduceitandhowthiscommodityisbeingproducedsustainably. The school is also provided with paint materials and a resource kit.
Please note in order to successfully meet the design brief, tasks 2, 3 and 4 must be submitted.
The Tasks...1. The Archibull Use the blank fibreglass cow to inspire or create the artwork.
2. The blog Produce a weekly web blog which documents the journey of your artwork.
3. The video Produceashortvideotoraisetheprofileofyourallocatedcommodity,tobepublishedontheLandLearnNSWYoutube channel.
4. The PowerPointProduce a PowerPoint for web publishing on the LandLearn NSW website reflecting your sustainability learnings.
Tasks are explained in greater details on the following pages 14 to 31.
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Cow-Spiration and Food For Thought...Web links will be provided to give the students both background knowledge and inspiration.
‘Archibull Artwork’ should embrace the theme:- ‘Bridging the Rural/Urban Divide – What does it take to feed Sydney for a day sustainably?’
Examplesofkeyissuescovered...1. The role of your commodity in feeding and clothing Sydney sustainably 2. Understanding the challenges our farmers face to feed people sustainably in a world with a declining
natural resource base 3. Thedisconnectbetweenconsumersandfarmers–howdowefindcommonground.4. Understanding the disconnect between the food we buy and the impact that it has on the environment
when we throw it away
Otherissuestoexplore• Thefutureoffarming,whatdirectiondoyouseefarminggoinginasocialmediaworld.• Facesoffarming,howtopersonalisefarminginaglobalisedsociety.
Meet the FarmerA young farmer from rural NSW who specialises in each commodity will be paired with a school who is studying that particular commodity. The young farmer will come to your school and talk to the students and share their farming experiences.
Theyoungfarmerwillalsobeavailableovertheinternettoworkwithyourstudents–ifwecanmasterthistechnology and rural internet speed allows!!!!!!
Acompulsorycomponentoftheblogisablogpostabouttheyoungfarmer’svisitandwhatthestudentsgained from this face to face interaction with their allocated farmer.
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Assessment Task 1: Create your ArchibullCreatingyourartworkwillbethefinalactinaprocessthatinvolvesplanning,teamwork,learningaboutsustainability,agricultureandyourlocalenvironment,andtherecordingoftheprocessusingdigitalphotography and student reflective writing. The photographs and student essays form the core of The blog (AssessmentTask2)
So what do you have to do?Usetheblankfibreglassbulltoinspireorcreateanartworkordesign.Paintit,filmit,projectontoit,createananimationwithit,drapeitwiththings,photographit,orcreateaninstallationorasculpture.Thepossibilitiesareendless......usethecowasacanvas,filmstar,projectionscreen,billboard,hangerforwearable......youdecide.
Whilethebullwillbeanexpressionofstudentcreativity,itwillalsocommunicatetheTeamsawarenessof,andstrong messages about the theme.
Tohelpensure‘thebigideas’flow,furthersupportappearsonpage
Remember,amajorpartoftheArchibullPrizeexperienceisstudentsworkingtogethertodevelopbigideas.Yourfirstideaswillnotbeyourbestideas,andyourfinalartworkwilloccuraftermuchplanning,designing,drawing,anddiscussing.
Aseparate12pageArchibulltemplatebookletisprovidedtosupportthedevelopmentofideas,andtoallowindividual students to contribute to the final product.
The templates will allow teams of students to plan and refine ideas through a number of drafts. Students can work in teams to complete each section or take on the whole bull.
Studentsshouldapplyarangeofskillsandprocessestoplan,develop,refine,makeandpresentartwork,communicating awareness and understanding of issues learnt as part of the project.
The development of ideas will grow and start to come together after students have had contact with local farmersandindustryexperts,andaftertheyhavevisitedlocalfarms(optional).Resourcematerialsandinternetresearch will also provide opportunities for student learning.
Student understandings must be apparent in the artwork. Consideration of purpose and suitability must occur when planning and preparing the artwork for presentation to a wide audience.
AmajoringredientfortheproductionofyourArchibullisteamwork.Workingco-operatively,gettingalong,listeningtootherpointsofviewandsharingideaswillallleadtoarichlearningexperienceforall,andasignificant contribution to the sustainable agriculture message.
We know we are sending mixed messages to the students by providing calves that are steers and cows that are obviously not bulls. Please forgive us. The “Archicow Prize” just doesn’t have the same cultural significance!!!
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Assessment Task 2: The BlogProduce a weekly web blog which documents the journey of your artwork. The development and implementationofbigideastoldthroughphotosofstudentsatwork,photosofearlydraftsshowingthedevelopmentofthebigideas,visitsbyindustrymentors,incursionsandexcursionsundertakentogethandsonexperienceoffarmingsustainably,shortstoriesfromstudentteamsprofilingtheirpartintheproject.Theproject blog is a significant part of the Archibull Prize.
The blog should include opportunities for:
Investigating and DesigningThisinvolvesdiscussingandlearningaboutthechosentheme,listinggoalsandkeyideasandmessages,producingsketchesandtextat‘initialdesign’level,refiningartworkandtextbyproducing‘roughs’onthelargetemplates,discussingasateameachnewdraft,leadingtoadesignthatisacceptedbytheclassasthat to be created.
ProducingHavingsuccessfullyworkedthroughthedesignprocess,theteamcreatestheartwork.Atthisstage,teammembersshouldsharerolesofcreating,supporting,digitalphotographyandrecording(text).
Analysing and EvaluatingThroughoutthedesignprocess,manychangeswilloccurthatmoveawayfromtheoriginalideas.Discussionsandeventscanberecordedbyteams,eachofwhomisexpectedtocontributeareflectiveessayorreportforthe project blog.
Your blog should include the thinking behind alterations to the original ideas. Why were the changes made and how did the changes improve the big ideas?
Photosshouldalsobeusedtoshowstudentinvolvement(teamworkandimmersion),torecordthevariousstagesfrominitialsketchingtofinishedproduct,andtoprovideaphotographicrecordofthelearningforthe Project Blog. A written record of the goal-setting and key message discussions should also appear in the blog.
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Key elements of the blog are:• Digitalphotographsrecordingsignificantevents(suchasvisitsbyfarmersandvisitstolocalfarms),
with supporting text.• Digitalphotographsshowingstudentsworkinginteams,withsupportingtext.• Aprofileoftheimportanceofagricultureinyourlocalarea.• Digitalphotographsportrayingthedevelopmentofthebigideasthroughthedraftingstagestothefinal
creationoftheArchibull,withsupportingtext.• Funnyphotos:Dedicateapagetofunnyphotos,includingtheArchibull‘posing’inanexoticlocationat
the school.• Acollectionofsmallparagraphstosupportphotographsincludedintheblog.• StudentstoriesthatbuildaprofileoftheTeam’slearningexperience.IdeasforindividualstowriteonInclude: • Reportwritingonlearningaboutthechosentheme • Reportwritingabouthowideaswereshapedanddecisionsweremade • ReflectivewritingontheTeam’seffortsandprocesses • Narrativewritingaboutaspecificevent,ortheactivityasawhole • Expositorywritingabouthowthingsweredone • Gossipcolumnist:What’shappeningsociallyastheTeaminteracts? • Includeafewfactsaboutwhatyourteamhaslearnedabouttheirallocatedcommodityandsustainable
agricultural industry.
NOTE: Contributions to the Project Blog should reflect high levels of student engagement, teamwork and a sharing of ideas and roles.
ForsomeinspirationseeABCHeywirehttp://www.abc.net.au/heywire/winners.html
Areviewofthemostpopularblogprogramscanfoundherehttp://blog-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
In the best interest of the competition element we do not expect you to publish your blog on the web until the due date to submit your Archibull Prize entry
Please provide a high resolution copy of all photos used in the blog in a dedicated Blog Folder on your Archibull Prize memory stick (provided by Art4Agriculture) to be submitted as part of your entry.
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Assessment Task 3: The Video Aspartoftheprogram,aYoungFarmingChampionwillvisityourschoolandtalkaboutthecommoditythey represent.
• Thetaskistoputtogetherashortvideo,nolongerthan5minutestoraisetheprofileofyourselectedcommodity and promote the Australian farmers that produce it.
• Researchyourideastogiveyourfarmera‘makeover’.Forexample.Howwouldyoupromotethecommodity?HowwouldyoupromoteanAustralianFarmer?Howcanwegivetheimageoffarmersa‘makeover’?Thenchoseaformatonvideotoexpressthem.Thesecouldbeasa30secondadvertisement,mockinterview,and‘Australianstory’segment.
Tips:• Insmallgroups,researchyourcommoditygroupandthefarmersthatproduceit.Interviewafarmer.• Findoutwhatmotivatesyourfarmerandtrytoconveythisspiritinyourvideo.Wewouldlikethestoryofyour
farmer to communicate their passion and commitment to the general public and capture their attention.• Findoutwhatcatchestheattentionofalargecityaudience.Howcanthestoryoffarmingcapitaliseon
popular culture such as social media • Onceyouhavedevelopedyourideas,chooseaforminwhichtoexpressyourprofile.Forexamplean
actualinterviewintheformof‘AustralianStory’,oranadvertisementpromotingyourfarmerandtheircommodity. Perhaps a mock interview where students can play the part of farmer.
• Giveyourvideoacatchytitle• Wewillacceptthefollowingvideoformats o AVI(preferredformat) o WMV o MPEG o MOV o MP4• Musicusedmustbeoriginal,permittedorCopyright-free.• Anydisplayorreferencetobrands,logosetc.mustbeincidental,non-promotional,andnotinfringeonany
copyright or trademark rights.• Presentationsshouldonlyincludesourcedmaterialswhichhavereceivedapermissiontopublish.
Thisincludes,forexample,photos;illustrations;andmusic• Acknowledgeallinformationsources.
ForexamplesofvideosvisitcurrentvideosontheLandLearnNSWYoutubechannelathttp://www.youtube.com/user/NSWLandLearn
Please provide a high resolution copy of your video in dedicated Video Folder on your Archibull Prize memory stick (provided by Art4Agriculture) to be submitted as part of your entry.
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Assessment Task 4: The PowerPoint• ProduceaPowerPoint“calltoarms”to o EncourageindividualstounderstandtheimportanceofasustainablefoodsupplychainAND o Inspire the community to take responsibility both for their personal ecological footprint and play an
active role in the drive to achieve a sustainable planet.
Tips:• ExploretheCradletoGraveconcepti.e.fromrawmaterialextractionthroughmaterialsprocessing,
manufacture,distribution,use,repairandmaintenance,anddisposalorrecyclinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_cycle_assessment
• ExploretheconceptofClosedLoopRecyclinghttp://www.visyclosedloop.com/index.php?id=1• ForinsightsandinspirationseetheClosedLoopLoveWhatYouDo3Dvideoanimationathttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IadmrG9CuDA&feature=related• BackgroundstatisticsandcampaignconceptscanbefoundontheFoodwisewebsitehttp://foodwise.
com.au/.• SecondBitehttp://www.secondbite.org/
What makes a great PowerPoint?The structure of your PowerPoint is very important. Some suggested tips include: • Shakehandswithyouraudience–introduceyourselftothemtomakeyourstorypersonal• Selectthreekeypointsyouwanttomakeandlistthem• Offerauniqueperspectiveandencouragereaderstoreflectmoredeeplyontheissue.• Provideanexplanationofthetopicthatincludesyouruniquepointofview.• Usesimplefactsandsimplelanguagethatthemajorityofthereaderswillunderstand.• Beproactive–Providearealisticsolutionorcalltoactionthatreadersshouldconsider.• Finishstrong–Restateyourpointofviewintheconclusion.• ForsomeexcellenttipsandpointersRobGreenallfromAgvetProjectshascreated:“GettingHeardbythe
Herd–Thesecretstogettingyourmessageacross”www.art4agriculture.com.au/images/Secrets%20to%20gettting%20your%20message%20across%20using%20Powerpoint.pdf
• Foranexcellentexampleofapresentationthatusesclevergraphicsandsimplelanguagetodeliveraclearmessageseewww.slideshare.net/art4agriculture/sustainable-farming-lets-ask-dr-googlepgoogle-by-isabella-molineaux-and-africa-vernon
Other important Information • Presentationsshouldonlyincludesourcedmaterialswhichhavereceivedapermissiontopublish.This
includes,forexample,photos;illustrations;graphsand/orcharts.• Acknowledgeallinformationsources.• Format–landscapeorientedPowerPointpresentation.Nosoundplease!2003-2010versionofPowerPoint
will be accepted. Please do not convert the PowerPoint to pdf.• PleaseencourageyourstudentsNOTtouseanimationunlessthepointcannotbeeffectivelymadewithoutit• ForPowerPointexamplessee:http://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW
The best PowerPoints will be published via the LandLearn NSW website.
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What the Archibull Prize judges will be looking for
Archibull Prize 2011 Assessment Criteria
Product Criteria Mark
Artwork Artworkonfibreglasscowtocommunicatethetheme“BridgingtheRuralUrbanDivide-WhatdoesittaketofeedSydneyeachdaysustainably”Aspects taken into account are:Explorationofbigideasthroughteamworkandcooperation.Expressionsofstudentcreativityandimagination.Awarenessof,andstrongmessageabout,thechosentheme/s.Consideration of purpose and suitability.Connection of the ideas to the artistic expression of them.
/40
Blog IncludeWeekly Journal(min 1 journal entry per week)Digitalphotographsrecordingsignificantevents(suchasvisitstolocalfarms,visitbymentor),withsupporting text.Digitalphotographsshowingstudentsworkinginteams,withsupportingtext.A profile of the importance of the commodity group your students are studying.Digital photographs portraying the development of the big ideas through the drafting stages of the final creationoftheArchibull,withsupportingtext.FunnyphotosincludingtheArchibull‘posing’inanexoticlocationattheschool.A collection of small paragraphs to support photographs included in the Journal.
/15
Video ResearchIncludes evidence of direct research. Correctly referenced.Conveying the messagePresents a clear picture of what motivates a farmer.Communicates the value of farmers to the general public.Creativity Theoveralloriginalityofthevideo;useoforiginalideas,illustrations,andstyle.Suitability Suited to capturing the attention of the large city audienceMaking the connectionIdentifieshowfarmingandpopularculturecanworktogetherORIdentifies how we can bridge the Rural-Urban Divide
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PowerPoint OriginalityThecontentandideasarepresentedinauniqueandinterestingway.GrabstheattentionofawideaudienceConnectionShows a reflection of understandings from the projectIncludes ideas about the future of farming in a social media world StructureIntroduction(DynamicStart)Content(SimpleClearLanguage)andStrong/MemorableConclusionCollaboration Presentationshowseffectiveuseofcollaborationandgroupeffort/participationInformationisorganizedinaclear,logicalway.The message of how we can take responsibility for our ecological footprint is clearly conveyedAcknowledgment Correctly cited materials and acknowledgement of sources
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EntryExitSurveys
At least 30 students have completed entry and exit survey.Please note the same students to complete both the entry and exit survey
/5
Teacher Evaluation
Survey and teacher reflections /5
Total /100
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Program ConnectionsParticipatinginthisfun,hands-onchallengewilldeliversyllabusoutcomesinanumberofsubjectsincludingVisualArts,VisualDesign,PhotographicandDigitalMedia,DesignandTechnology,AgriculturalTechnology,GraphicsTechnologyandTextilesTechnology,Geography,ScienceandEnglish.
We’reaskingstudentstomakeanartwork,design,digitalmediapiece,graphicorwearableinspiredbythetheme–‘BridgingtheRuralUrbanDivide-WhatdoesittaketofeedSydneyforadaysustainably’whichwillcommunicatesomethingaboutthesocial,environmental,culturalortheeconomicstoryoffarmersandfarming.
TheArchibullPrizepresentsauniqueopportunitytocreativelyengageinlocalsustainabilityissues.
We guarantee students will be motivated by the arrival of the life-sized bulls and proud when their finished work isonpublicdisplay.HittheoutcomebullseyewiththeArchibullPrize
HerearesamplesStage4&5outcomeswebelievecanbeachievedbyparticipatingintheArchibullPrize.
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1http://www.kondiningroup.com.au/
What do you do first? Tohelpusunderstandthestudents’backgroundknowledgeandwhattheylearnfromtheprogramTheKondininGroup1 and Primezone have helped us put together an entry and entry survey. Please note there are a numberofquestionsinthesurveywedonotexpectthestudentstoanswercorrectly(wehadtolookupsomeoftheanswersourselves).Thesequestionshavebeenincludedtohelpprovidethestudentswithsomebackgrounding and also allow us to assess the program content.
Please select at least 30 students to undertake the entry and exit survey. To ensure we can accurately assess the program outcomes please ask the same students to do both the entry and exit survey.
We will endeavour to get the survey feedback to you as soon as possible to allow you to identify areas that you might like to concentrate on to maximise future learning opportunities.
The survey is in survey monkey format and can be found herePrimary Schools:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RKGP6WH
Secondary Schools: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RLMRNHJYour school will be awarded 5 points towards the Archibull Prize competition assessment for completing the entry and exit survey
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Introduction Basichumanneedshaveneverchanged;weneedfoodandfreshwater,shelterandclothing.Ourneedshavetraditionallycomefromnature,andwestillrelyonnaturetosupportus;fishfromthesea,riversandlakes,meat,milk,hidesandwoolfrompastureland,cerealsandfibreslikecottonfromcropland,timberfromforests,energy from oil and gas. We need productive land and water to supply these resources.
Land and sea ecosystems perform another vital task. They have the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide from theair,includingouremissionsfromburningcoal,oilandgasfortheenergytopowerourmodernlives.Weproduceotherwastes:runofffromourtownsandfarms,solidwastesandgasemissionsallaffecttheecosystems around us.
Howmuchlandandseaweneedtodoallthisisourecologicalfootprint.Theplanet’sbiocapacityishowmuchsuitablyproductivelandandseathereisavailable.Ourabilitytolivesustainably(withouttheresourcebasecollapsingcatastrophically),dependsonthebalancebetweenthetwo.
Howevercommunitiesaregenerallydisconnectedfromtheecologicalconsequencesoftheirlifestylesandsoareoftenill-equippedtomake‘better’choices.Forthisreason,thereisavitalneedforeducationaltoolstohelpthemdevelopthevalues,skillsandknowledgetomakebetter,moreinformedenvironmentalchoices
Australiansarepassionateabouttheirfood.Butwe’renotsokeenontheamountoffoodthatwethrowout.Infact research has found that Australians waste an estimated 3 million tonnes of food every year. Many people areunawareofthe‘paddocktoplate’environmentalimpactoffood.Thereseemstobearealdisconnectbetween the food we buy and the impact that it has on the environment when we throw it away. People no longergetthatwhenyouthrowoutfood,you’realsothrowingoutalloftheresources,fuelandenergythatwere used to get that food to your plate. This lack of knowledge about the wider impact of food is one of the reasons why we waste so much of it.3
Strategies for sustainable agriculture development and natural resource management stress participation and empowermentoffarmersandcommunities,aswellaspartnershipdevelopmentamongallstakeholders. This can only happen when common ground for communication and sharing is found.
Project BackgroundOverthelast100yearsAustraliahasbecomethemosturbanisedcountryintheworldwithover86%ofAustralians living in cities or within 80 kilometres of the coast2 and having no close links to rural communities andlittleknowledgeabouttheproductionoftheirfoodandfibre.Equallydisturbing,isthatfarmersaregradually losing touch with their urban communities. Modern value chains have isolated farmers from the people who consume their food and fibre and yet it is these communities that will ultimately determine the futureofruralagriculturalproduction–asconsumers,decision-makersandcompetitorsforAustralia’snaturalresources and future workforce.
Ifwearetomoveforwardandmeettheburgeoningfoodneedsofthecitiesandthecommunity’sexpectationsaboutenvironmentalsustainability,bothruralandurbancommunitiesmusthaveagreaterempathytowardsoneanother.
Equallyinregionalareas,itisimportanttoattractandretainyoungpeopletoinjectnewideas,promotechangeand generate innovation.
This can only happen when a common ground for communication and knowledge-sharing is found.
2DepartmentofSustainability,Environment,Water,PopulationandCommunities20113Adaptedfromhttp://foodwise.com.au/get-foodwise/about-the-campaign.aspx
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Feeding Sydney ThisyearthecowspaintedfortheArchibullPrizetheme“WhatdoesittaketofeedSydneyforonesingledaysustainably?”willgetpeopletalking,thinkingandappreciatingtheirrelianceontheruralsector?
ThequantitiesoffoodrequiredtofeedSydneyeachdayareastoundingandtheyonlyhintatthefullstory.It’sstaggeringenoughtodiscoveryouneed90,000cowstoproduce1.3millionlitresofmilkthatSydneyconsumeseveryday,butthenhowmuchlanddoyouneedforthosecows?Howmanypeopletorunthefarm?Howmuchfeedforthestock?
Theseareonlyahandfulofquestionsandtheyareonlyforoneareaofagriculture.Thedrivebehindthisthemeistostartadiscussionandcelebratethenoblestprofession–ourfarmers.
Australian farmers feed and clothe 60 million people. If they were doctors or nurses or pharmacists or ambulanceofficersorfirementherewouldbeamomentinmostpeople’sliveswhentheywouldberemindedjust how important those professions are.
Farmers,atlessthan1percentoftheAustralianpopulation,arealmostinvisible.Withfoodinabundanceinthiscountry,thereislittleopportunitytoremindAustraliansjusthowimportantourfarmersare.Throughtheirartwork the students will help farmers change this paradigm.
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Where to start?Here are some ideasDiscussthestatisticsforhowmuchSydneyeatsinaday.Seethe“SuperStats”tablebelow.
What it takes to feed and clothe Sydney for a day sustainably
Commodity Group Kilograms consumed each day in Sydney Produce / animals requiredPork 303,726kgs 10,847pigs
Horticulture 2,090,795kgs 8,664,032fruit&vegetables
Poultry 1,295,562kgs 1,423,832hens
Meat&Livestock 577,205kgs 9014 beasts
Dairy 1,817,315kgs 390,146dairycows
Grains 693,151kgs 31543 loaves of bread
Bees 12,603kghoney 882,191,781bees
Rice 163,836kilograms 8,191,780,822grainsofrice
Cotton 1,854bales=420,858kilograms 30,000hectaresofland
Aquaculture 17kgperperson/peryear
Howdoesyourcommoditystackup?Isitmoreimportantthananyothers?Startadiscussionandusethistostart your blog.
• Whathaveyoualwayswonderedaboutfarminglife?DiscussandcreatesomequestionsandcontactafarmerfromyourallocatedcommodityandsetupaninterviewE.g.Whatinspiredyourfarmertogetintotheareathattheydid?Howdoesthisinspireyou?Usethisinyourblog.
• Howcanyouandyourcommunityinspireotherstogettoknowwheretheirfoodcomesfrom?Ingroupsof2-3,createanadvertisementorslogantoraisetheprofileofyourprimaryindustry.
• Insmallgroups,researchthetheme‘BridgingtheRural-UrbanDivide’.Howdoyouinterpretthistheme?Report back to the class.
• Profileyourcommodityfromasocial(peopleandcommunities),economic(moneyandjobs),environmental(land,water,airandlivingthings)and,cultural(heritage)perspective.
• Telltheschoolaboutwhatyouaredoingatassemblyandinyourschoolnewsletter.Tellthemaboutyourthemeand what the artwork will need to convey. Call for suggestions from your school community about what should be includedinyourartworkorcallforsourcesofinformation/inspiration.PutanArchibullsuggestionboxattheoffice.
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Natural Resource ManagementHave you heard of natural resource management (NRM)?Naturalresourcemanagementistakingcareofnaturalresourcessuchasland,water,marineandbiologicalsystems,withaparticularfocusonhowtheirmanagementaffectsthequalityoflifeforbothpresentandfuturegenerations.It’saboutthelong-termimplicationsofactions-thinkingaboutthefutureandnotjustaboutnow.Forprimaryproducers,naturalresourcemanagementmeanstakingintoaccounttheclimate,soils,water,vegetationandorganisms(theaboveandbelowsoilfoodweb)whenmakingdecisionsaboutthelandtheymanage.Thegoalissustainability-balancingsocial(peopleandcommunities),economic(moneyandjobs)andenvironmental(land,water,airandlivingthings)factorstomakesurethatourchildrenandgrandchildrencanequallybenefitfromournaturalresources.
Oursocial,economicandenvironmentalwellbeingdependsonthesustainablemanagementandgradualimprovementofnaturalresources.Infact,inmanyinstances,thegoalistoleaveabetternaturalenvironmentforpeopleinthefuturethanwhatwehavetoday!It’spossibletomakeithappen,bycombininglongstandingbiologicalfarmingprincipalswithmodernscienceandresearchandadoptingholisticprimaryproductiontechniques.1
Indairyfarming,forexample,thebiggestenvironmentalchallengesaremanagingsoilhealthandnutrientbalances.Thatmeansminimisingtheescapeofnutrientsintomajorwaterways,protectingon-farmwaterwaysandremainingbushland,andavoidingexcessiveon-farmwateruse.Dairyfarmersareconstantlyfinding,moreefficientandenvironmentallyfriendlywaystomanagetheirland,theiranimalsandtheirbusiness.2
NRM involves continually learning about dynamic natural systems and adapting the way we do things and encouragingpeopleandcommunitiestoacquirethenecessaryresourcesandskillstoparticipate.
1LandLearnNSW,2008.www.landlearnnsw.org.au2UniversityofMelbournewww.greenhouse.unimelb.edu.au/BMP_Dairy_Farm.htm
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Fast Facts on Natural Resources Management Did you know?• Occupyinganentirecontinentofsome7.6millionsquarekilometres,Australiaisthesixthlargestcountry
intheworld.Itsoceanterritoryistheworld’sthirdlargest,spanningthreeoceansandcoveringaround12millionsquarekilometres.3
• Nearlysevenmillionsquarekilometres,or91percentofAustralia,iscoveredbynativevegetation.Althoughthisfiguremayseemhigh,manyofAustralia’sdesertlandscapesarecoveredbynativeplantssuchassaltbush,albeitsparsely.4
• Approximately80%ofAustralia’slandareaismanagedbyfarmers,indigenouscommunitiesandotherprivate land managers.5Ofthisapproximately60%ofAustralialandmass(around450millionhectares)isusedforgrazingandcropping.TobestprotectAustralia’senvironmentalresources,privatelandownershave to be involved.
• Australiaisthedriestinhabitedcontinentinearthyetweareoneoftheworld’slargestconsumersofwaterper person.6
• Waterisabundantandrareatthesametime.Only3%ofallthewateronearthisfreshwaterandonlyatinyfractionofthisisavailableforhumanuse.9outof10Australian’sliveincoastalareasplacingincreasing pressure on marine systems.7
• IfanapplewasusedtorepresentEarthandyoupeeleditandcutthepeelinto32pieces,oneofthesepieceswouldrepresentthethinlayerofsoilavailableonEarthforproducingalltheworld’sfoodcrops.8
• 22AustralianmammalshavebecomeextinctsinceEuropeansettlement-whichisonethirdoftheworld’srecent mammal extinctions.9
3AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTradewww.dfat.gov.au/facts/env_glance.html4AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTradewww.dfat.gov.au/facts/env_glance.html5AustralianNaturalResourceAtlas,2003www.anra.gov.au6GovernmentofSouthAustralian,2007.www.nrm.sa.gov.au7GovernmentofSouthAustralian,2007.www.nrm.sa.gov.au8CaliforniaFoundationforAgricultureintheClassroomandLandLearnVictoria.www.landlearn.net.au/print/apple_earth9AustralianNaturalResourceAtlas,2003www.anra.gov.au
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How can I help?• Getinvolved o ParticipateinaprogramsuchasCoastcare,LandcareorBushcare o Conduct an audit e.g. biodiversity or energy o Gettoknowourclimate o Learn more about soil o Become a volunteer o Adhere to water restrictions o Pick up litter o Find out what primary industries exist in your district o Buy locally produced foods whenever possible• Buysustainably o Think about the origin of products and the production chain delivering products to you o Askyourself,“Wasthisproductproducedwithminimalimpactontheenvironment,andwiththefuture
inmind?” o Visitlocalmarketstoaskproducersabouttheirproductionmethods o Avoid heavily packaged goods o Avoid heavily processed foods.
These are just a few suggestions…..there are hundreds more!
Astheleadersandfuturedecisionmakers,youhaveaveryimportantrole.Usingyourartworkyoucanofferanopinionandsolutions.Otherswillseeyourworkandbeinspiredtoact.
Case Studies1. Dairyfarmingforthefuturecasestudywww.landlearnnsw.org.au/sustainability/case-studies2 SmallFarmsNetworkwww.smallfarms.net.au/Projects2008.html3. LandcareProjectCaseStudyhttp://svc018.wic008tv.server-web.com/case_study.asp?cID=3074. LandcareFarminghttp://svc018.wic008tv.server-web.com/page.asp?pID=29
14TheWhyFiles–TheSciencebehindtheNewshttp://whyfiles.org
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Some Key Words to Support Internet ResearchTry typing the key words into the search boxes of relevant recommended websites or www.google.com.au.• Sustainability • Biocapacity • Naturalresource
management• Sustainabledevelopment • NaturalResourceManagement • biodiversity
focus farm project • Biobanking • CarbonPollutionReductionScheme • EmissionsTrading• CarbonSink • Ecologicalfootprint • Ecosystemservices• Sustainableyield • Environmentalmanagementsystem • Productionchains• LandlearnNSW • environmentalself-assessments • Soilfoodweb
How can I help?• Understandwhereagriculturefitsinyourcommunity’sidentityandhowithasshapedyourenvironment.• Supportyourcommunity o Shoplocally,buylocalproducts,supportlocalbusinesses o Visitlocalmarkets o Talk to a producer
Some Key Words to Support Internet ResearchTry typing the key words into the search boxes of relevant recommended websites or www.google.com.au.• Lifestylechange • Foodsecurity • Landuseconflict• Hawkesbury/Nepean • Landuseplanning • Foodmiles• Waterallocation
Water for Life How important is water? • Youcanlivethreeminuteswithoutair.• Youcanlivethreeweekswithoutfood(althoughwepromiseyouthatwon’tbefun).• Withoutwater,yourchanceofsurvivalisonlyamatterofdays.• Watercomprisesaround60%ofthehumanbody.• Waterisessentialtolife.
Waterflowsthroughtheblood,carryingoxygenandnutrientstocellsandflushingwastefromourbodies. It cushions joints and soft tissues. Without water we cannot digest or absorb food.
Infact,withoutwaterwewouldnotevenhavefood.Theamountoffoodafarmercangrowisdirectlyrelatedtothe amount of water available and how efficiently it is used.
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Logicallyagricultureaccountsforaround65%ofAustralianwateruse.10AgricultureisoneofAustralia’sbiggestindustries,makingwatercrucialtoAustralia’seconomicwealth.Infact,agriculturalexportsearnAustraliaaround 28 billion dollars a year.11
EvenmoreamazingisAustralianfarmersproduce93%ofourdomesticfoodsupplyandenoughfoodtofeed60 million people.12
Cropproductiondependsonmanagingsoilmoisture,fromrainandirrigation.Livestockneedcleanwaterforhealthygrowth.However,intensiveagriculturalproductioncandamagewaterqualityunlesswetakecareofthesoil and water.
Australia’swaterdemandsandsuppliesarechanging.Urbanareasaregrowing,ourvaryingclimatehasseenlongperiodsofdrought,andwaterflowsinkeyenvironmentsystems,suchastheMurrayDarlingBasin.TheMurrayDarlingBasinhasmorethan50%ofallirrigatedlandinthecountry.Itislinkedtoourfoodsecurity.
Lower rainfall as a result of climate change could mean over 35 per cent reduction in runoff and infiltration to replenish ground water systems and surface storages by2050.Withoutadequateplantcoverpaddocksshedwater,particularlyfromhighintensitystormscausingflashfloodinganddamagingsoilerosion,ratherthanabsorbing it. The amount of water passing through the Murray-DarlingBasinhasdecreasedbytheequivalentof400SydneyHarboursover6yearsofdrought.13
Naturalwaterecosystemsincludewetlands,rivers,floodplainsandestuaries–allcontributetoournation’swell-being.
These systems:• Replenishandpurifywaterresources• Areimportantforfaunaandflora• Offerplacesforrelaxingandrecreation• Supplywatertourbanareasandagricultural
industries.
So the health and sustainability of our water ecosystems arecriticaltooureconomy(moneyandjobs),environment(land,airandlivingthings)andsociety(peopleandcommunities).
Since1994,theNSWGovernmenthassurveyedresidentsabout“Who Cares about Water and Climate Change”Visithttp://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/community/whocares.htm
Approximatelyone-thirdofpeoplesaidwatersupply/conservationandmanagementwasthemostimportantissue for the government in protecting the environment.
10AustralianGovernmentNationalWaterCommission11AustralianBureauofStatistics,ValueofPrincipalAgriculturalCommoditiesProduced,Preliminary2006/2007.12AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries,AustralianFoodStatistics2007.13DrMeganClarkCSIROaddresstoNationalPressClub2009www.csiro.au/science/Megan-Clark-presentation-20090930-NPC.html
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Did you know?• Mostfreshwaterisusedtogrowfoodandotheragriculturalcrops.Worldwide,agricultureaccountsfor
80%ofglobalwaterconsumption,andinAfricaandAsiaitaccountsfor90%.Tofeedagrowingworldpopulation,itisestimatedthat14-17%morefreshwaterwillbeneededforirrigationby2030.14
• Australiaisthedriestinhabitedcontinentonearth,withtheleastamountofwaterinrivers,thelowest run-off and the smallest area of permanent wetlands of all the continents.• Onethirdofthecontinentproducesalmostnorun-offatallandAustralia’srainfallandstream-flowarethe
most variable in the world.• Humanactivitycontinuestoexertpressureonmarineenvironments.Pollutionisthemostseriousproblem
andthevastmajorityofmarinepollutioniscausedbylandbasedactivities—soilerosion,fertiliseruse,intensiveanimalproduction,sewageandotherurbanindustrialdischarges.
Future Landscapes Australiaisthelowest,flattestanddriestinhabitedcontinentonearth.Two-thirdsofourcountryisaridor
semi-arid,sowaterisprecious.Oursoilsareoldandfragileandcontainlotsofsalt.
Lessthan8%ofAustralia’slandmassisarablelandsuitableforsoilbasedagricultureandlivestockproduction.15
However,ourcontinentistheonlyoneinhabitedbyasinglenation,sowehaveabetterchancethanmostofmanaging natural resources sustainably. National policies that complement state government policies will mean we can all work together to achieve our climate change mitigation targets
Oncedominatedbyagriculture,miningandmanufacturing,ourindustrybasehaschanged.Todaythefoodindustry is still a vital component of the Australian economy. Food accounts for 46 per cent of all retailing turnoverinAustralia,Therewerearound191400peopleemployedinfoodandbeveragemanufacturinginAustraliain2006–07.
Howevertheservicessector(banking,media,consulting,tourism,retaileducation,health,etc)nowaccountsfor80%oftheeconomy.16
But the services sector and city dwellers still need somewhere to live and something to eat…so land is becomingmoreandmoreavaluableresource–bothforhousingandfarming.
14TheWhyFiles–TheSciencebehindtheNewshttp://whyfiles.org15AustralianDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTradewww.dfat.gov.au/facts/env_glance16JCSIROwww.csiro.au/science/Services-science
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Sustainably managing available farming resources is becoming more important as:
• Surfacewateravailabilityforagriculturecontractsascitydemandrises.• Groundwaterisdecreasing.• ArablelandareaclosetolargeurbanpopulationsisshrinkinghoweverarablelandintheBurdekinandOrd
River irrigation areas is being expanded.• Soillossisincreasing–Onapositivenotethishaschangedinthelast10yearsparticularlyincropping
districts with conservation farming being widely adopted. • Traditionallysoilshavelostmorenutrientsthanweappliedhowevertheswingtofarmingpracticeslike
biological farming principals help make more of the nutrients available to plants and reduce the need for applied fertilisers.
• Agriculturalresearchandextensionisindeclineindevelopedcountrieshowevertherearesome outstanding programs being developed in Africa and Asia to help small holders produce more food See the Australian Farm Journal December 2009.• Thereislessfishintheoceanandmarineharvestsarelimited.• Resourcessuchaswaterwillhaveapriceandthismayreflectinincreasedfoodprices
In the next forty years world population is expected to increase from 6.7 billion to 9.2 billion. Population growth is decreasing the average land availability per person globally.
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According to Professor Julian Cribb17 in the next two generations the world must raise food production by 110%withtwo-thirdslesswater,costlierandscarcernutrients,usingfewerresourcesandunderthehammerof climate change.
Wise farmers in developed countries are addressing these challenges and important improvements to farming methods have taken place over the last 20 years. In Australia and USA cropping soils are improving with conservationfarmingtechniques,useofcompostsincludingorganicwastesfromintensiveindustriesandhumanpopulations,useofcroprotations,greenmanurecrops,legumecropsandpasturesforsoilnitrogen,and stubble retention.
Indevelopingcountriesmajorchangesaretakingplacetohelpliftsmalllandholdersoutofpoverty,withbiologicalfarmingtechniques,microdosefertiliser,betterseedvarieties,andbettercommunicationsforsellingproductsoutsideoflocalmiddlemen.SeeAllianceforaGreenRevolutioninAfrica,www.agra.comforexamples
Did you know?• Over3billionpeoplenowrelyonfoodgrownsomewhereelseandtransportedtocities,anumberlikelyto
grow to around 7 billion by 2050. In the next 50 years we will need to produce as much food as has been consumed over our entire human history.18
• Asamajoragriculturalexporter,Australiafeedsnotonlyitsownpopulationbutalsosome60millionpeopleinothercountries.Theexportsarevitaltooureconomyandmakeanimportantcontributiontotheworld’sfood supply.
• Around2.5millionhectaresofAustralia’sagriculturallandsarecurrentlyaffectedbydrylandsalinity.AccordingtoreportscompiledbytheNationalLandandWaterResourcesAuditin2000,theannualcostsassociated with dryland salinity are estimated at about $600 million in Western Australia and $250 million in theMurray-DarlingBasin.Howeverdrylandsalinityisbecominglessofproblemasfarmershavedevelopedstrategiestocounterit–e.g.theEvergreenFarminggroupinWAisplantingperennialpasturevarietiesonpaddocksthatonceonlyheldannuals.Groundwaterislowering,organicmatterincreasing,andsoilwaterholdingcapacityisincreasing.Thismeanslesswaterinfiltratesintosalinegroundwater,thereisgreatervegetationproduction,andthesoilsurfaceisprotectedfromwindandwatererosion.
• Australiahasmorethan33millionhectaresoffarminglandwithacidsoils,whichcostthenationaroundabilliondollarsinlostincomeeveryyear.Estimatessuggestthatupto90millionhectaresoflandinAustraliahavethepotentialtobeaffectedbyacidity(i.e.,haveapHoflessthan6).Onpositivenoteconservationfarmingtechniquesarebeginningtocountertheacidityimpact.
17JulianCribbandAssociatesDiscussionPaper.TheComingFamine:Constraintstoglobalfoodproductioninanoverpopulated,affluentandresource scarce world: the scientific challenge of the era.18CSIRO www.csiro.au
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How can I help?Big and complex issues are looming and the repercussions on the rural landscape are large.
The community can be made to recognise problems and solutions through your innovative images and artwork. You can inspire people to work together for a sustainable future.
Astheleadersandfuturedecisionmakers,youhaveaveryimportantrole.Usingyourartworkyoucanofferanopinionandsolutions.Otherswillseeyourworkandbeinspiredtoact.
Some key words to support internet research
Try typing the key words into the search boxes of relevant recommended websites or www.google.com.au.
• Accountingfornutrients • ConservationVolunteersAustralia • Carbonsink• Sustainablelandmanagement • Ecologicalbenchmarking • AustralianConservation
Foundation• Healthysoils • Soilconservation • Carbonlabelling• Deforestation • Acidification • carbonfootprint• foodsecurity • floods • agro-ecology• GreenhouseGasEmissions • Supplychainemissions • Holisticmanagement• Conservationfarming • Landcarefarming • Soilcarbon
AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofEducation,EmploymentandWorkplaceRelations,LabourForceRegionData,2008.23TheGarnautClimateChangeReviewwww.garnautreview.org.au/chp7.htm24NationalGreenhouseGasInventory,2009.www.climatechange.gov.au/inventory/2007/index.html
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Climate Ready ItisimportantthatAustraliareduceitscarbonpollutiontominimisetheseverityofclimatechange.However,becausesomegreenhousegasesstayintheatmosphereforabout100yearsaftertheyarefirstemitted,therewill be some changes that cannot be avoided due to past and inevitable future global emissions.
Climate is used to describe long term weather patterns and scientists are predicting significant changes to our climate.InthefuturemuchofAustraliaispredictedtobewarmer,mostlydrier,andsubjecttomorestorms,droughtandfloods.ButthepatternisnotthesameacrossAustralia,forexamplenorthWesternAustraliaispredicted to be wetter than it is now.
Sincethemiddleofthe20thcentury,Australiantemperatureshave,onaverage,risenbyabout1°Cwithanincreaseinthefrequencyofheatwavesandadecreaseinthenumbersoffrostsandcolddays.Rainfallpatterns have also changed - the northwest has seen an increase in rainfall over the last 50 years while much of eastern Australia and the far southwest have experienced a decline.19
Whyisthishappening?ScientistsbelievetheslowandgradualchangeisduetoanincreaseintheEarth’stemperature as a result of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Oneofthebestindicatorsoftherateofclimatechangeissealevel.Australiahasbeenmeasuringsealevel since 1870 and it has been rising ten times faster than the average rate of rise over the previous two thousand years.
Since 1993 the average rate rise has almost doubled again.20
Further changes are expected and consumers and producers need to be ready for a climate change. Why? Growingourfoodandfibre,buildinghouses,drivingcarsandusingelectricityareallactionswhichproducegreenhouse gas emissions. If we are to reduce emissions new ways to work with the environment to produce and consume goods will have to be found.
19AustralianBureauofMeteorology,2009.www.bom.gov.au/climate/change20ChurchetalUnderstandingGlobalsealevelsPastpresentandFuturewww.springerlink.com/content/v65402564j02170h
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Agriculture and climate change Australiaexportsaround65%ofitsfarmproducts;60%ofitsforestproducts;98%ofitswooland45%ofitsdairy products.21
Australianfarmersproduce93%ofourdomesticfoodsupplyand82,000peopleinNSWaredirectlyemployedin farm related jobs.22
Agricultureisimportantsocially(peopleandcommunities),economically(moneyandjobs),environmentally(land,water,airandlivingthings)andculturally(heritage).
Peoplewhoworkthelandarealwaysgettingready,forexample,gettingreadytoplantorharvest,fortherain or change of season. Day-to-day and year-to-year weather variations are a normal part of managing the landscape and farmers know to plan for local conditions.
Butwait-.Here’sthetrickypart-inAustralia,agricultureisthesecond-largestsource(energyisthefirstwith40%)ofgreenhousegasemissionswith15%ofemissions,andthemainculpritsare:• Breathing,belchingandflatulencefromfarmlivestockastheydigesttheirfood.Thegoodnewsisthese
emissionshavedeclinedinAustraliasince1990,asthesheepflockhasdeclinedandthecattleanddairyherdshaveremainedstatic.Betterfeedingtechniquesofcattlehavealsoreducedemissionsperunitofmeatandmilk.WhentotalCO2lifecyclesareaccountedforonlivestockfarmsmanyare(becominggreenhouse gas neutral and some are even net sinks of greenhouse gas.
• Gasesreleasedasfertiliserbreaksdown.Thegoodnewsisemissionsfromnitrogenfertiliseruseisbeingreduced with better more precise fertiliser application decisions including machinery which places fertiliser closetotheseedandfurtherfromthesoilsurface,andreplacementofinorganicnitrogenfertiliserwithbiologicalnitrogenfromrhizobium(asoilbacteriumthatformsnodulesontherootsoflegumesandtakesupnitrogenfromtheatmosphere)andazobacter(atypeoffree-livingbacteriathatconvertsatmosphericnitrogenintoammonium,makingitavailableforplantuse).
So reducing the effects of climate change depends on limiting greenhouse gas emissions from human activities such as agriculture. Best management agricultural practices are significantly reducing emissions and providing sinkssuchassoilcarbon,shrubs,treesareincreasinglybecomingpartofthewholefarmmix.
For further information visit 1. Reducingmethaneemissionsfromlivestock/www.greenhouse.unimelb.edu.au/BMP_Dairy_Farm.htm2. Pastureandcroppingwww.greenhouse.unimelb.edu.au/BMP_Cropping.htm3. AdoptionofBestManagementPracticeswww.land.vic.gov.au/DPI/Vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/landuse-best_
management/Otherthingsfarmerscandoistouseenergy-efficientsystemsandfarmequipment,replacingold,wornparts,havecorrectly-sizedcoolersandheatersconnectedtooff-peaktimers,alongwithregularmachinerymaintenance and efficiency checks all benefit the environment and help farms run smoothly and profitably.
Climatechangeisnotjustaruralproblem.Australia’spercapitaemissionsarethehighestintheOECDandamong the highest in the world.23
Itisestimatedtheenergysector,whichincludesenergyindustries,transportandmanufacturingcontributed75.4percentofAustralia’snationalinventoryofemissionsin2007.24
It is too late for the blame game.
Countryandcityfolkhavetoworktogethertoreducetheeffectsofclimatechange.Thatmeanseating,shopping,travellingandgenerallylivingresponsibly,avoidingwasteandchoosingtheenvironmentasfirstoption.
21AustralianDepartmentofForeignAffairsandTradewww.dfat.gov.au/facts/affaoverview.htmlandDairyAustraliawww.dairyaustralia.com.au/Our-Dairy- Industry/Industry-Statistics/Export-Summary.aspx22AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries,AustralianFoodStatistics2007.AustralianGovernmentDepartmentofEducation,EmploymentandWorkplaceRelations,LabourForceRegionData,2008.23TheGarnautClimateChangeReviewwww.garnautreview.org.au/chp7.htm24NationalGreenhouseGasInventory,2009.www.climatechange.gov.au/inventory/2007/index.html
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Did you know?• Australiacurrentlyreliesonnon-renewableenergyfor95%ofitsenergyneedswithcoalaccountingfor
41%;oil3.6%;andgas19%-yetAustraliahasupto25%oftheworld’ssolarpowerexpertise-aheadofthe USA Fast Thinking 2010.
• EveryyeareachAustraliaburdenstheatmospherewithasmuchcarbondioxideandothergreenhousegasesastheaverageAmerican(about30tonnesofcarbondioxide)duetoourhighstandardofliving.www.science.org.au/nova/107/107box03
• Methaneabsorbsthesun’sheat21timesmorethancarbondioxideandthushasaglobalwarmingpotential of 21. Nitrous oxide is far more powerful again and has a global warming potential of 310.
• Becausemethanecanbeusedasafuel,thereareseveralpossibilitiesforrecyclingthegasandusingitasasourceofenergy.Eventhoughthismightproducesomecarbondioxide,theoverallcontributiontoclimatechangewouldbelessthanifthemethanewasn’tused.Foryears,methaneproducedbydecomposing matter at some rubbish tips or landfill sites has been tapped as a source of the gas.
• 85millionbarrelsofoilareconsumedeverydayintheworldNewScientist2009.• Foodmiles-Evidencesuggeststhatatsometimesduringtheyear,transportingproducefromothercountriesmay
havealowerimpactthanheatingorrefrigeratingproducegrowninBritain-forconsumers,drivingfifteenkmtoashop to buy food emits more carbon than flying a pack of green beans from Kenya to the United Kingdom and UK demandforfreshproducefromAfricasupportsover700,000workersandtheirdependentsABARE2009.
How can I help?Supposeyou,astheaverageAustralian,cutyouremissionsbyonly10percent.Thatwouldsaveabout55milliontonnesayear,theamountChina’semissionsincreaseeverymonthorso.Thatsoundslikeawasteoftime.
Butsupposethat,spurredbyourexample,wewerejoinedbyotherpeoplewholiveindevelopedcountries,say10percentoftheUnitedKingdom,theUSAandJapan.Thatwouldsavealmost900milliontonnes,wellabovethe annual growth not only in China but in all the rest of the world. This would buy time for the developing nations torefinetheirtechnology,maketherightsortofinvestmentsandultimatelyreinintheiremissions.
Wecouldnotdothatovernight,butwecoulddoitover,say,adecadeifwewereserious.Apartfromhelpingwiththeimmediateproblem,itwouldhelpusgetreadyforthereallyseriouscuts,60percentormore,thatweneed to make by 2050 to help maintain our climate
Astheleadersandfuturedecisionmakers,youhaveaveryimportantrole.Usingyourartworkyoucanofferanopinionandsolutions.Otherswillseeyourworkandbeinspiredtoact.
Some Key Words to Support Internet ResearchTry typing the key words into the search boxes of relevant recommended websites or www.google.com.au.• Deforestation • Acidification • Biofuels• Climatechange • Australia’sFarmingFuture • emissions• foodsecurity • floods • sustainableagriculture• GreenhouseGasEmissions • Basketofgases • Carbonoffsets• Carbonsequestration • Carbontax • Methanetoenergy• Renewableenergy • geoengineering • biodiversity• Sustainablelandmanagement • Ecologicalbenchmarking • Carbonsink• Healthysoils • Soilconservation • Carbonlabelling• GreenhouseGasEmissions • Supplychainemissions • carbonfootprint• agro-ecology • wickedproblem • carboncapture
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Web links The following online support will prove useful to students and teachers:
Commodity Groups
Beef and Sheep:Meat&LivestockAssociation www.mla.com.au/about-the-red-meat-industry
Australian Wool Innovation http://www.wool.com/ www.themainmeal.com.au
Dairy: http://www.dairy.edu.au/discoverdairy/Teachers/ From-Farm-to-Plate-Module.aspx
http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/
Grain:GoGrains http://www.gograins.com.au/
GrainGrowers http://www.graingrowers.com.au/
Cotton: http://www.cottonaustralia.com.au/students
Other useful links• LandLearnNSWhttp://www.landlearnnsw.org.au/production-chains• Primezonewww.primezone.edu.au• FoodWisehttp://foodwise.com.au/• SecondBitehttp://www.secondbite.org/• LandLearnhttp://www.landlearnnsw.org.au/sustainability/climate-change• FoodConnecthttp://www.foodconnect.com.au/• FarmersMarketAssociationhttp://www.farmersmarkets.org.au/• SydneyFoodFairnessAlliancehttp://sydneyfoodfairness.org.au/
The Closed Loop System • ClimateandFarminghttp://www.climateandfarming.org/eghg-f.php• Backtothefuturewithclosed-loopfarminghttp://farmfutures.com/blogs.aspx/back-to-the-future-with-
closedloop-farming-755• InstituteofScienceinSocietyhttp://www.i-sis.org.uk/closedLoopCircularEconomy.php• ECOPONEXhttp://www.ecoponex.com
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Sustainable Farming • CSIROSustainableFarminghttp://www.csiro.au/science/SustainableFarming.html• BiotechnologyandSustainableAgriculturehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjZxN3eDQ3Y&feature=related• FarmersMarketAssociationhttp://www.farmersmarkets.org.au/• SydneyFoodFairnessAlliancehttp://sydneyfoodfairness.org.au/• FarmDayhttp://www.farmday.com.au/• LandLearnNSWSlideSharehttp://www.slideshare.net/LandLearnNSW• CSIROSustainableFarminghttp://www.csiro.au/science/SustainableFarming.html• BiotechnologyandSustainableAgriculturehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjZxN3eDQ3Y&feature=related• CSIROClimateChangeAdaptationhttp://www.csiro.au/org/ClimateAdaptationFlagshipOverview.html• AustralianGovernmentBureauofMeteorologyhttp://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/• NSWGovernmentClimateChangewebsitehttp://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/• NSWDepartmentofPrimaryIndustriesForestscarbonaccountingscheme
http://www.forest.nsw.gov.au/env_services/carbon/accounting/Default.asp• GarnautClimateChangeReviewhttp://www.garnautreview.org.au/• AustralianCoalIndustryCOAL21initiativehttp://www.coal21.com.au/• CO2CRC-Reducingcarbondioxideemissionstotheatmosphere,carboncaptureandstorage.
http://www.co2crc.com.au/about/p_nswdpi.html• PredictingAustralia’sfutureclimatehttp://www.cmar.csiro.au/research/climate.html• NASA’sEyesontheEarthhttp://climate.nasa.gov/
Farmer Case StudiesSeehttp://www.art4agriculture.com.au/archibull/casestudies.html
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Some inspiring stuff Heywire• JanetBrown“Themove-Walkingawayfrom140yearsonthelandandlearningtogetbyinthesuburbs”
http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/winners.html?action=loadwinner&winner=brownj#brownj• AlexandraNeill“TheAgplotThejoysofhavingafarmatyourschoolandlearningyourBrahmanfromyour
Angus”http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/winners.html?action=loadwinner&winner=neilla#neilla• BenjaminVella“HeadUpInTheCloudsAnupliftingstorythatusesphotographytosymbolisethe
aspirationsofcountrystudents”http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/winners.html?action=loadwinner&winner=vellab#vellab
• LukeChaplain“LifeonaNorthWestCattleStationLifeonaNorthwestQLDStationSoakingupthesounds,sightsandsmellsofaremotecattlestationontheGulf”http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/winners.html?action=loadwinner&winner=chaplainl#chaplainl
Thesearejustafewofthemanyinspiringstoriestobefoundherehttp://www.abc.net.au/heywire/community/about.htm
LandLearn Speech Spectacular• Listentothewiningspeecheshttp://www.landlearnnsw.org.au/students/speech-spectacular
Other links• ClimateKids(NASA)http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/• Thestoryofstuff
http://www.storyofstuff.com/downloads.html• UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyhttp://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/games/index.html• Teachingclimatechange
http://www.teachingclimatechange.com.au/• UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgram
http://www.unep.org/• ForestryCommissionGreatBritain
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-7m8n8l• theinterneteffectivelyhttp://www.nla.gov.au/pathways/pthw_global.html
Some other Commodity Groups • AustralianChickenMeatFederationhttp://www.chicken.org.au/• AustralianPorkhttp://www.australianpork.com.au/pages/index.asp• AustralianEggshttp://www.aecl.org/• SeafoodServicesAustraliahttp://www.seafoodservices.com.au/
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Acknowledgements Program content provided by Lynne Strong B. Pharm; Adv. Dip. Ag; Art4Agriculture Project Coordinator
SimoneTaylorEducationConsultantYearsKto6
CarolynSmithSchoolsEducationCoordinatorLandLearnNSW
CarmenPerryGradCertificateSocialEcology;B.Ed
PatrickFrancisB.Ag.Sc.EditorAustralianFarmJournal
Program Content reviewed by
ProfessorBillBellottiVincentFairfaxChairinSustainableAgriculture&RuralDevelopment
Professor School of Natural Sciences University of Western Sydney
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