18 December 2023, AU: THE Federal Government has approved $87m in funding for the establishment of the Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC), partnering with key industry players such as Corteva Agriscience, to help Australia reduce agricultural emissions and advance the sector’s reputation in sustainability.
The 10-year funding commitment will be matched by 73 partners across industry, education and government to tackle some of the most important issues facing Australian agriculture while supporting its continued growth and the target of $100b in economic value by 2030.
The Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, said ZNE-Ag CRC would coordinate research projects including ways to improve crop quality and production, and soil and fertiliser management.
“The message from the latest Climate Statement is clear, we’re close but we need to pull out all the stops to get over the line on our 2030 climate commitments,” Mr Husic said.
“We need to mobilise Australian industry to play its role in the transition to net zero now. But we also need to think about the next big steps, which is why it is important to get Australian science and industry working together on this.”
The ZNE-Ag CRC Chair, Dr Debra Cousins, said it was gratifying to see the government support for the CRC bid.
“The national collaboration has secured $300 million in funding over 10 years, with the Federal Government’s contribution of $87 million making it the largest CRC in the program’s history,” Dr Cousins said.
The CRC will begin work in 2024 and Corteva Agriscience Country Leader, Ian Corr, said the company would partner to pursue research on input products for managing nutrition efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser losses.
“Corteva has a proud history of research and development that finds solutions to the key challenges facing our customers, our industry and the wider community,” Mr Corr said.
“Sustainability is integral to our values and our mission, and we are investing in the technologies that will assist Australia in making its contribution to emissions reduction while supporting growers to improve their yields, strengthen their economic resilience and feed the world.”
