National Challenges and Opportunities Campaign
About the National Challenges and Oppurtunites porfolio
AgriFutures Australia’s National Challenges and Opportunities (NCO) portfolio represents a strategic initiative to tackle pivotal issues within the agricultural sector. The NCO campaign is a forward-thinking approach that aims to identify, comprehend, and address the significant challenges and opportunities that affect Australia’s rural industries. With a focus on sustainability, energy, carbon, and waste, these themes are critical in shaping a resilient agricultural future.
These priorities reflect a collective effort to enhance agricultural practices, reduce environmental impact, and foster long-term resilience. Initiatives that align with these themes are essential in ensuring that the agricultural sector can adapt to changing conditions and continue to thrive. It is through such strategic focus that the sector can contribute significantly to the nation’s economic and ecological well-being.
Projects
Environmental Social Lending
Find out moreNational Challenges and Oppurtunites resources
Video: Albany Farms case study
Colin and Beau Ford, owners of Albany Farm Fresh Foods, have leveraged sustainable finance to fund the solar-power system for their free-range chicken sheds. In this video, Colin shares how a chance introduction to a sustainable loan has been one of the easiest business decisions for him.
Video / 9 Min Watch
Video: Old Man Creek case study
Producing beef at Old Man Creek, owner Michael Gooden secured a green loan to fund a soil carbon project to increase soil carbon levels and generate soil carbon credits. In this video, Michael shares a bit about he and his wife’s journey to accessing the loan and how it is being implemented in carbon sequestration.
Video / 9 Min Watch
Old Man Creek successfully utilises sustainable finance to fund soil carbon project
Michael Gooden, owner of Old Man Creek, secured a green loan to fund a soil carbon project to increase soil carbon levels and generate soil...
Publication / 4 Pages
Podcast: Albany Farms case study
Albany Farm’s solar-powered free-range sheds demonstrate conventional farming done in an environmentally sensitive way. In this episode, owner and operator Colin Ford shares how he and his wife, Beau, developed a portable shedding solution for their pigs and chickens on a free-range rotation back in 2021. In their most recent expansion of their shedding solution, Colin and Beau financed a $45,000 solar power unit through a green asset loan.
Podcast / 22 Min Listen
Podcast: Products and Opportunities with sustainable finance - part two
In this episode, host Georgia Pugh is joined by farm consultant Mark Gardner to discuss what lies ahead in the future of sustainable lending and what producers can be doing today to best prepare themselves.
Podcast / 26 Min Listen
Podcast: Introduction to sustainable finance
Setting the scene for sustainable on-farm practices and projects nationally, host Georgia Pugh is joined by Emma Harbison from AgriFutures and Emma Heard from Ernst & Young. This podcast episode delves into the ingenuity of producers and the sustainable lending options available to them through Australian financial institutions.
Podcast / 38' Min Listen
Podcast: Products and opportunities with sustainable finance - part one
In this episode, host Georgia Pugh is joined by Carmel Onions from CommBank to better understand the existing products and opportunities that exist under sustainable lending today. This includes discussion around what loans exist, eligible assets, applicant tips, and reporting requirements for practice change projects.
Podcast / 22 Min Listen
Podcast: Old Man Creek case study
Michael Gooden’s Old Man Creek farm produces angus cattle stud and grass-fed beef. In this episode, Michael shares how he made the decision to offset production emissions through a soil carbon project and the process of engaging local financial institutions to explore what loans were available to support the project. The lower interest rate on the green loan translates to a cost saving for Michael, with the project set to sequester enough carbon to be sold as credits in the future, generating a 15-30% internal rate of return.
Podcast / 40 Min Listen
Benefits and costs for Australian producers with sustainable finance
This factsheet provides producers with information on the benefits and costs associated with implementing sustainable practices on-farm and utilising sustainable finance.
Publication / 3 Pages
Products and opportunities with sustainable finance in agriculture
This factsheet provides producers with information on the different sustainable finance products available today, plus emerging opportunities to be aware of for the future. Some...
Publication / 5 Pages