Climate change and increased climate variability will present a number of challenges for horticulture and natural resource management in Australia over the next 20 to 50 years. Growers and communities will need to make decisions that increase resilience, allow for adaptation and seek approaches for mitigating greenhouse gases. This requires R,D&E that promotes innovation in science, tools development and policy development.

Horticulture in Australia is intensive, generally irrigated, agriculture. Horticulture is a diverse industry, spread across the continent in a wide array of climates. Horticulture is the second-largest and fastest growing industry in agriculture; with some 30,000 businesses nationally, and a farm gate value of ~$9 billion. The industry contributes positively to the economic, social and environmental elements of the Australian community. See here for more information on the value of horticulture.

The Australian horticulture sector has historically been successfully adapting to the challenges of changes in climate, water availability and weather extremes, and the industry continues to value improvements in production efficiencies and best management practices as approaches to managing ongoing variability and change.

The horticulture industry is nevertheless at risk to the impacts of climate change and climate variability.

Due to the diversity of the industry and the anticipated impacts climate change poses for horticultural businesses, the research responses that industry is and will need to continue to implement to manage and adapt to climate change are varied.

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), through the HAL Environment Portfolio, is partnering with industry and Government to implement research projects and programs to address the issues of climate change. See here for more information on HAL climate research.

The Horticulture Climate Change Action Plan has been recently developed specifically to identify urgent RD&E needs for the area of climate change/variability within the HAL Environment Portfolio. See here for more information on the Action Plan.