Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform Australia

The ABSF has welcomed Patrick Hutchinson as the new Chair of its Steering Group. 👏 With more than 25 years of experience in the Australian red meat and livestock industry, Patrick's career has spanned advocacy, industry leadership, global trade and policy environments. He brings a broad, supply chain-wide perspective to the role to ensure sustainability remains a priority for the entire industry. ✅ Learn more about Patrick below 👇 https://bit.ly/3X6dcXF

The 6-week MicroCertificate in Sustainable Sourcing in Food & Fibre that SAI Platform Australia co-developed with the University of Melbourne will be offered again this year. The course starts 26 May. This is a great short course for any interested in sustainable production of Australian food & fibre? https://lnkd.in/gDmvRdXv Key information: 8 hours of contact learning 40 hours of self-paced reading and assessment Content covers analysing international trends and the key drivers in sustainable sourcing, explore proven models for integrating sustainability into the sourcing process, and supplement participants’ knowledge of supply chain sustainability podcasts by executives with sustainable sourcing experience and real-world industry examples of sustainable sourcing initiatives. The course includes learning methods such as podcasts of interviews with SAI members, case studies, and two short assignments over 6-weeks of self-timed learning. Successful participants earn a digital competency certificate equal to one-quarter of a University of Melbourne subject.   Cost: $990. Contact Dr Selwyn Heilbron to discuss enrolment, email selwyn@saiplatformaustcom.onmicrosoft.com

The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework is seeking a new Steering Group Chair. After three years of excellent leadership by Mark Davie (who came in during COVID and assisted the industry is setting sustainability goals), there is now the opportunity for the new Chair to create greater linkages between what the ABSF measures and on the ground actions. Expressions of interest close 8 December.

The latest edition of our Sustainability Bites newsletter is out now and wraps up another full year for SAI Platform Australia and includes an overview of the successful one-day forum on "How do we decarbonize the supply chain" held in Canberra in October. https://lnkd.in/g9KUdmaW]

At the 2024 SIA Platform Australia AGM in Canberra recently the following members were appointed to the Management Committee for the next 12 months. Michael Anderson from GrainCorp continues as President, Jessica Loughland from Greenham as the Vice President, Heidi Smith from Tassal as Treasurer amd Jack Holden from Fonterra continues as a member of the Committee joined by two new members - Bill Pardy from Nutrien Ag Solutions and Jenny Lim from MLA. We thank you for your contribution and look forward to a great year ahead.

Many of our members gathered in Canberra recently for our 2024 AGM and to start to plan our strategy for the next three years. Over dinner we were thrilled to be joined online by Hans Jöhr, former Corporate Head of Agriculture, Nestlé, and one of the initiators for the establishment of SAI Platform and Robert Erhard, current President of the Platform and Nestlé's Head of Dairy, Corporate Sustainable Agricultural Development. It was great to hear their thoughts about what's happening to support and encourage sustainable food production and to tap into their extensive knowledge and wisdom. We look forward to working closely in 2025 with SAI Platform

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform Australia members are looking deeply into how to reduce scope 3 emissions. Well done to Jack Holden for being part of this discussion at #UNGCA #UnitingBusiness recent event.

Great to see Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform Australia members front and centre at this event - President, Michael Anderson from GrainCorp and Laura Grubb from Greenham

October is a busy month for those leading the charge towards a more sustainable Australian agriculture sector. There's the Global Nature Positive Summit in Sydney this week. Then the Australian Farm Institute is holding its annual Roundtable in Canberra on 22nd October. SAI Platform Australia is also heading to Canberra for our AGM and 2025-2028 Strategy Planning on 23 October. The next day we will run a Forum to discuss "How do we decarbonize the supply chain?" We'll hear from our members across the agriculture, food and fisheries supply chain about the actions that can be taken, are being taken, and will be taken to decarbonize. Members will hear from University of Melbourne leading academic Richard Eckard, representatives from DAFF and DCCEEW about policy implementation, industry (including AFI), production sectors and supply chain businesses. This annual forum is one of many benefits of SAI Platform Australia membership. Get in touch if you think your business would like to be involved in great peer-to-peer learning.

The first stop on the 2024 SAI Platform Aus Field Trip was to Tasmanian Landcare Award winner Tim Reed's farm at Rosevale in the West Tamar Valley. Together with his wife Katherine, Tim has turned their small property around. He is passionate about improving soil health and has even used poppy mulch to boost nutrients. He has trenched and piped in water to multiple paddocks so that he can rotate his stock regularly and had has erect extensive wallaby proof fencing! He's building a dam to be more drought resilient and planting trees for shelter for stock. He has put a lot of thought it improving his farm and doing it sustainably.