If you ask young people in Australia between the ages of 11 and 18 to self rate their eco-literacy you will get results similar to below. 
On the other hand, a recent request to farmers from the council of agricultural research and development corporations read like below. It would appear the organisations who do research in agriculture on behalf of farmers are still tip toeing around the term Climate Change when they talk to farmers.
Leadership is Language – Please can we start by normalising the term
Invitation to be involved in an RDC Climate Initiative co-design workshop
I’m writing to seek your assistance to help co-design a significant new initiative from the Rural RDCs.
The 15 RDC’s have committed to take a long-term view to investing in research that will drive transformation of Australia’s primary industries to grow their productivity in the face of an increasingly variable climate.
We believe that Australia’s primary producers can and do lead the world in sustainable, resilient production systems adapted to significant climate variability. We believe the active management of resources through productive agriculture, fisheries and forestry offer the greatest opportunity to have a positive impact on our environment while also supporting prosperous lives and lifestyles for our primary producers and our communities.
The new RDC Climate Initiative will drive growth, build resilience and foster thriving agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries, regardless of pressures from a changing climate. It will support a successful agriculture sector and enable it to surpass NFF’s vision of farmgate output exceeding $100 billion by 2030.
Through the initiative, the RDCs are creating a durable investment platform to address climate research in ways that only become available by working together. The investments and pathways to change need to be designed by and for our primary producers, tailored to match their unique circumstances, challenges and opportunities.
We are driving the development of this initiative hard and moving fast. Our plan is to present an investment blueprint to the Council of Rural RDCs for endorsement when it meets in September.
From next Wednesday we are holding six co-design workshops to focus on critical assumptions and opportunities in the quest to find the best ideas for transformative changes that are the most desirable, the most technically feasible, most economically viable, and the most attractive for investment by the RDCs, governments and the private sector. We would love to have you and or some of your members involved. Feel free to circulate this message or
complete this form to register your interest in participating. We’ll follow up with an email in coming days to let you know which workshop you’ve been allocated to.
The two-hour workshops are being held online and represent your opportunity to have input into the design of this exciting program. The number of participants in each workshop will be limited. We apologise for the short notice and in advance in the event we are unable to accommodate you in a workshop.
If you would like more information about the Initiative or the workshops please don’t hesitate to contact ……….
As
FutureEye remind us on the website – all leading businesses are expected to have a climate change strategy – yet agriculture is still getting the message from government and our industry bodies we cant even use the term.
Time for leadership language from both government and our industry bodies. Time to turn knowledge into action.
and to assure the world the forward thinking farmers embraced the term early here is a great story on an innovative farmer and Goterra founder Olympia Yarger who says “Climate change technology will boost the economy post-COVID-19, and startups can deliver it”
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Author: Lynne Strong
I am a 6th generation farmer who loves surrounding myself with optimistic, courageous people who believe in inclusion, diversity and equality and embrace the power of collaboration. I am the founder of Picture You in Agriculture. Our team design and deliver programs that inspire pride in Australian agriculture and support young people to thrive in business and life
View all posts by Lynne Strong
