Adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. The aim is to reduce negative effects (hazards), while maximising positive effects (opportunities).Climate change adaptation involves building resilience and reducing vulnerability. It aims to minimise risks associated with changing climate conditions and prepare communities, ecosystems, and economies for climate-related events.
Adapting to climate change is crucial for the sustainability of industries and the prosperity of communities. Adaptation complements efforts to reduce emissions.
The department is actively involved in strategy and research related to climate change adaptation for agricultural industries and regional development.
Adaptation plan for primary production
The department will lead the primary industries sectoral adaptation plan (SAP). This will include:
- livestock
- broadacre crops
- horticulture
- fisheries aquaculture
- plantation forestry.
The department will consult with key industry stakeholders from agriculture, fisheries and forestry. There will also be opportunities for public consultation on the adaptation plan.
Identifying risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities will prepare for the future security of agricultural, fisheries and forestry.
The SAP for primary production will involve:
- assessing climate vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity
- exploring future climate scenarios
- assessing future potential climate-related impacts
- identifying adaptation actions to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
Witnessing 2023 as the hottest year on record, with records broken for ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice loss and glacier retreat, emphasises the unpredictability of climate change. There are uncertainties related to data and knowledge used to determine the sensitivities, adaptive capacities and future scenarios. Planning ahead for potential future scenarios will help the primary industries forecast issues and build resilience to them.
Adaptation research at DPIRD
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Program or project |
Description |
Department's role |
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Supports pastoralists to investigate and design long-term solutions for on-station improvements. The project is jointly funded through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and the ACRF. Supporting pastoralists investigate and design long-term solutions for on-station improvements in rangeland condition and livestock profitability. |
DPIRD delivers this program. |
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Investigating solutions including renovating existing dams, building new dams, and implementing evaporation suppression and runoff technologies.
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A Grower Group Alliance project through the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub in collaboration with DPIRD and UWA. |
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Small Water Cycle research project |
Reviewing the impacts of different climatic drivers, including land clearing, natural climate variability, and anthropogenic GHG emissions, on the climate of southwest WA. |
Murdoch University research project funded by Agricultural Climate Resilience Fund. |
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Investigating how farming practices in low and medium-rainfall zones can increase profit and manage risk, in specific areas of the WA grainbelt:
The approach includes field trials, on-farm research and monitoring, grower and industry participation, and whole farm economic and biometric modelling. |
A DPIRD and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) co-investment supported the 5-year project which started in in April 2022. |
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Addressing the challenges of variable seasons, changing markets and environmental impacts on the sheep industry. The program includes FEED365 and FutureSheep. Feed365 aims to redesign livestock forage systems while FutureSheep will research the impact of projected climates in 2030 and 2050. |
Partnership between DPIRD and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). |
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Evaluating the long term productivity, profitability and sustainability of lower input regenerative and intensive ag-tech systems against current district practice. |
DPIRD research at at the Merredin Dryland Resarch Institutesearch |
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Katanning Research Station is a working farm where research into genetics, soil moisture, weather stations and windbreaks is undertaken to adapt to a changing climate. |
DPIRD is funding research alongside research partners. |
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Soil health
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Ongoing research into the variety and complexity of WA soils and how to make healthy soils for crops and livestock pastures into the future. |
DPIRD is conducting this research. |
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This scheme assists farmers in the Warren-Donnelly region in preparing for reduced water availability due to the impacts of climate change. |
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The primary industries have already demonstrated effective management strategies for climate adaptation. For example, the grains industry has been producing more grain with less rain over the last 10 years. The 2011 WA marine heatwave decimated the blue swimmer crab industry, yet through new management strategies of increased stock monitoring for biomass measures and a flexible harvest strategy, the industry is now thriving.
Additional planning and actions are required to ensure the ongoing resilience and adaptation of the primary production sector in the face of further climate change impacts.
Australia has been implementing various agricultural adaptation strategies to cope with the challenges posed by climate change.
Some of these strategies include:
- Weather and climate forecasting and monitoring
- Research to improve weather forecasting models and monitoring systems to help farmers make informed decisions in response to changing climate conditions.
- Diversification of crops and livestock
- Farmers are diversifying their crops and livestock to adapt to changing climate conditions and reduce risks associated with extreme weather events.
- Water management techniques
- Implementing efficient water management techniques such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling to optimise water use in agriculture.
- Soil conservation practices
- Adoption of soil conservation practices like no-till farming, contour farming and cover cropping to improve soil health and preserving soil moisture as an adaptation to reduced growing season rainfall.
- Adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties
- Farmers are choosing crop varieties that are more resilient to heat, drought, and disease, to ensure better yields in changing climate conditions.
- Integration of technology
- Utilising technology such as precision agriculture, drones, and satellite imaging to monitor crops, optimise resource use, and improve productivity.
- Infrastructure improvements
- Upgrading infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events such as floods, storms, and heatwaves.
- Conserving biodiversity
- Protecting and restoring ecosystems to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services in the face of climate change.
- Building community resilience
- Educating the community and providing early warning systems, emergency preparedness, and social safety nets to cope with climate-related disasters.
Related content
- Climate Adaptation Policy
- Framework for climate adaptation planning (2010)
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment report Regional fact sheet-Australasia
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report
- National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy 2021-2025
- Western Australian climate adaptation strategy
- Climate Change Bill 2023