Emissions life-cycle assessment for the Australian export fodder industry

Summary

This project is proposed under the second priority in your open call: environmental life-cycle assessment for the export fodder industry.

Export fodder is a key industry in Australia’s agricultural sector, with one-third of commercial scale farm enterprises producing fodder each year. Commercial outcomes for fodder are important across the rural economy.

However, like all export-oriented industries, fodder will likely face increasing pressure on emissions, as key trade partners like Japan and Korea increase their climate ambition and emissions becomes more important in international trade. Understanding fodder emissions intensity and acting on key emissions sources will be key to the future competitiveness of the industry.

This project will deliver a best practice emissions life cycle assessment of the export fodder industry in line with the ISO standard, providing a comprehensive view of value chain emissions for Australian export fodder. Key outputs will include a detailed report on LCA findings and an industry roadmap identifying key priorities for R&D and investment and adoption pathways for the fodder industry to address major emissions sources.

As embodied emissions become a point of competition in export markets, the Australian fodder industry has an opportunity to differentiate itself and cement its enviable international reputation. But this requires a nuanced understanding of current state emissions and reduction pathways. If successful, this project will underpin the development of future R&D and commercial strategies for the fodder industry to support emissions reduction across the supply chain and ensure ongoing access to export markets.

Program

Export Fodder

Research organisation

Common Capital