Status: Project established January 2009 – ongoing.

Research provider – name & contact details
Peter Deuter, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, 07 5466 2233, peter.deuter@deedi.qld.gov.au 

Start & finish dates for project
January 2009 – March 2011

What is the project?

The project aims to determine critical temperature thresholds of significance to key horticultural crops, how climate change will impact on these commodities & regions, and suggest adaptation options for specific commodities & regions.

Why are we doing it?

Climate indices and critical temperature thresholds of significance are generally poorly understood, the impact of climate change on businesses and cropping systems in specific regions has not been well documented, and these two factors combine to make it more difficult to assess the resilience of climate systems. As a result of these uncertainties, this project is investigating whether exceeding the thresholds will, on their own, effect significant changes in land use or production systems, and what the adaptive capacity (resilience) of producers and production systems exists in light of a better understanding of these critical thresholds. The results can help producers have a better understanding of when climate changes may deliver impacts that are beyond the ability of producers to adapt to.

How are we doing it?

• Establish a practical understanding of climate indices and critical biophysical thresholds of significance to specific horticultural crops and production regions in Australia;
• Use this understanding to identify commodities and/or regions which, under climate change, are or will be significantly impacted by increasing temperatures; and
• Assess the impacts and resilience of production systems and/or regions, and identify adaptation strategies to address these impacts.

Project Partners

Project is funded through Woolworths Drought Action Day and Horticulture Australia Limited (matched Government contribution) and managed by the Managing Climate Variability Program (MCVP), through Grains Rural Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), to maximise synergies with other climate risk management projects.