Status: Completed

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
February 2009 – March 2009

What was the project?

A desktop study to develop an understanding of the emerging regulatory regime, and the threats and opportunities associated with green house gas (GHG) emissions in the banana industry and its impact on the banana supply chain.

If the banana industry does not understand how to measure its own carbon footprint at a basic level it cannot expect to fully understand the impact emissions capping will have on its supply chain partners who may seek to shift the costs of managing their emissions onto growers, who will not have the opportunity to pass them on.

Why did we do it?

To identify emerging threats and opportunities for the banana industry posed by climate change and the increasing regulation of green house gas emitting industries.

How did we do it?

A desktop study was undertaken and a report delivered to industry.

The report was titled, “Understanding and Identifying the Threats and Opportunities for the Banana Industry Posed by Climate Change”, and contains the following information:

• Regulatory environment and obligations emanating from the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), an emissions trading scheme to be introduced by the Commonwealth Government in July 2010 - a summary regulatory position having regard to currently available legislation, regulations and associated discussion papers.
• Climate change glossary of terms – to provide climate change information in simple terms.
• Quick guide calculator - for banana growers to assess their basic GHG emissions – an Excel spreadsheet which can be used by individual growers to estimate on-farm GHG emissions.
• Boundary issues – relating to estimating GHG emissions on-farm and from the whole industry.
• Supply chain participants specific to the banana industry - a list of the types of businesses which have a capacity to pass on costs of compliance with a future ETS to the banana industry.
• The banana industry's carbon footprint – an estimate of the banana industry's carbon footprint.
• Greenhouse gas abatement measures – a list of potential GHG abatement measures which banana growers can implement to reduce their carbon footprint, and the overall footprint of the industry.

Team members included:

• Stewart Lindsay, a Senior Development Horticulturist with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, based in Innisfail, NQ. 
• Tony Pattison, a Principal Nematologist with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, based in Innisfail, North Queensland.

Click here to access the above report.