Farm productivity and greenhouse gas emissions are closely linked; higher emissions are generally associated with lower productivity. Greenhouse gas emissions essentially represent lost or ‘leaking’ energy. Efficient use of energy on farm – creating a system without leaks – usually equates to better productivity and improved profitability. In a farm system, ‘leaks’ of greenhouse gas emissions often represent areas where farms can save money and improve efficiency.
Growers around the country are looking at their farm efficiency from many angles – the cost of inputs, changing commodity prices, resilience to climate extremes, and evolving attitudes towards climate and carbon. Growers are often at the forefront of both feeling the impacts and leading the change. Finding ways to tackle several important issues at once could have multiple benefits, such as easing the pressure on growers and opening new market opportunities.
