Push for nature friendly farming and nature-based solutions at COP30
- Three grassroots farmer representatives attend COP30 climate conference in Brazil
- Food and agriculture are a major focus of COP30
- Australian farmers hold the key to achieving two of COP’s key goals: nature-based solutions and forest protectio
Three farmer representatives in Brazil have spoken up on why emissions reduction and net zero matters for our farmers and food supply, and how agriculture holds the key to two of COP’s key goals.
The farmers are supported at COP30 by Farmers for Climate Action and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food.
Aniwan country/Armidale NSW grazier, Michael Taylor, who also runs integrated agroforestry and farm tourism, said aiming for net zero was important for farming.
“Australia’s own Treasury modelling shows abandoning net zero leads to higher electricity prices because it keeps us locked into high and volatile coal and gas prices,” Mr Taylor said.
“In an orderly energy shift, households and farm businesses save money as they electrify and use renewable energy. It’s time to focus on productivity not negativity.”
Mr Taylor said nature-friendly farming was great for emissions reduction and climate adaptation.
“Trees belong on farms. Growing trees is the low-hanging fruit when it comes to building carbon on farms. Trees are a farm asset that grow the value of the land, contribute to farm profi tability and resilience and this is backed up by real estate valuations. Biodiversity credits and carbon credits are helping to build the value of our land, too, and farmers love to grow things.”
2025 Nuffield Scholar, Maggie Jarrett, from See Saw Wines on Wiradjuri Country/Orange NSW, said pollution reduction goals were key.
“Abandoning pollution reduction goals just leads to more divisiveness in our communities, when we could be coming together and solving the big issues like growing profi tability and healthy food,” Ms Jarrett said. “A low-carbon, nature-positive business means we’re more independent and have greater control over our supply chain.
“Nature-friendly farming is good for the pocket and good for the planet.
“We’re nature-friendly farmers because we know it will improve biodiversity and soil health, which will improve our natural capital. This will decrease our use of synthetic inputs and make us more profitable.
“Inputs like fertiliser, fuel, and insurance are becoming so expensive that farmers can’t afford them, and nature-friendly farming reduces the need for these inputs.”
Worimi man and Worimi Country/Gloucester Mid North NSW beef farmer Joshua Gilbert said COP provided a chance “to learn and exchange with international colleagues on what we could and should be doing, and sharing what is working here locally as well”.
“I hope this can encourage Australia to have more of a nature focus in agricultural production,” Mr Gilbert said.
“It’s timely with the EPBC reforms (discussion) in Australia. We should be using this as an opportunity to ensure our environmental policy stacks up against the rest of the world with more nature-aligned farming, doing our bit for climate change, and supporting local communities.
“What we’re doing is on the world stage, and we need to keep doing the work.”
Media contact: Les White 0409805122 [email protected]
