Agriculture & Biosecurity

On-farm renewable energy paired with storage offers cheaper, more reliable energy for farmers, reducing reliance on diesel and grid electricity while improving productivity and diversifying income.

However, high upfront costs and limited subsidies remain barriers to adoption, despite strong support for the energy transition in rural and regional areas.

The Greens' plan:

• Subsidise on-farm batteries and renewable energy storage infrastructure with $50 million to lower costs and drive adoption.
• Accelerate renewable energy generation on farms with $50 million in dedicated funding to scale technologies.
• Establish an agricultural demonstration program through ARENA with $2 million to share knowledge and promote adoption.
• Launch an agrovoltaics research program with $2 million to showcase how farming and renewable energy can coexist.
• Implement legislative reforms to streamline scaling up renewable energy and storage for farmers.

The global alternative protein market, encompassing plant-based and cellular agriculture products, is projected to reach $290 billion by 2035, representing 11% of global protein consumption.

This rapidly growing sector offers a significant opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of food production, address climate and biodiversity crises, and enhance food security for a growing global population.

The Greens' plan:

• Advance the development of alternative proteins with a $100 million investment to support a greener, sustainable food system:
  • Establish cellular agriculture centres of excellence with $60 million to accelerate research and innovation.
  • Coordinate research efforts with $20 million for a task force linking programs like CSIRO’s Future Protein Mission to other research initiatives.
  • Support local businesses with a $20 million grant fund over three years to expand operational capacity and build facilities for processing Australian-grown plant proteins.

Countries like the United States and the European Union support their organic industries with funding and strong organic credentials, while Australia risks falling behind by still debating the definition of "organic."

The Greens are working to protect certified organic producers from greenwashing and help open new domestic and international markets.

They will also empower the organic industry better to measure its contribution to Australia’s agricultural revenue.

The Greens' plan:

• Support market access, industry growth, and research for organics with a sustained funding model backed by a $20 million commitment.
• Protect the organic industry from greenwashing by legislating a domestic standard that enshrines a legal definition of “organic” in Australia.
• Provide clarity on the organic sector's economic contribution with $1 million over five years to collect revenue data as part of the broader agriculture industry.

Australia’s agriculture sector faces challenges in transitioning to sustainable practices, with farmers needing support to adopt innovative solutions for productivity and environmental resilience.

The Greens will establish Green Agriculture Australia, a $250 million R&D centre to drive sustainable farming.

It will fund research, develop new technologies, and support farmers with training and solutions like regenerative agriculture, methane-reducing livestock feed, and precision farming.

The Greens' plan:

• Support Australian farmers in transitioning to regenerative and sustainable practices by establishing Green Agriculture Australia with $250 million in funding.

Invasive species threaten Australia's environment and agriculture, yet environmental biosecurity remains underfunded and de-prioritised.

Long-term sustainable funding for Australia’s biosecurity system is critical to manage the growing biosecurity risks posed by increasing tourism and trade.

The Greens are committed to addressing these challenges by supporting affected industries financially, boosting biosecurity capacity, and strengthening surveillance and research efforts.

The Greens' plan:

• Provide $75 million in federal compensation funding to support beekeepers impacted by the spread of Varroa Mite.
• Establish Environment Health Australia as an independent body to coordinate biosecurity response, preparedness, and engagement.
• Increase investment in environmental biosecurity surveillance with $8 million over four years to detect and prevent invasive species.
• Strengthen the Environmental Biosecurity Office with $28 million over four years to boost its capacity and capability.
• Invest $80 million in research, development, and extension to protect Australia from invasive species and pests.

The global industrial hemp market is rapidly growing, offering Australian farmers significant opportunities to diversify their income and invest in a sustainable, climate-resilient fibre crop.

Despite hemp’s many uses and its low THC content, industry growth has been limited by regulatory barriers and outdated perceptions.

To support jobs and farmers in regional Australia, the Greens will supercharge the growth of the industrial hemp industry by significantly increasing funding allocated to research, development and extension programs for the Australian industrial hemp industry.

The Greens' plan:

• Work with all levels of government to remove regulatory barriers and unlock the full potential of industrial hemp as a sustainable alternative for fibre production and other uses.
• Support jobs and farmers by supercharging the industrial hemp industry with a $40 million investment.

Australia has the potential to develop a $1.5 billion seaweed industry, contributing to sustainable food production, reducing livestock emissions, and enhancing marine ecosystems.

Seaweed farming offers significant environmental and economic benefits, with low ecological risks compared to intensive aquaculture, but its success relies on strong regulation, management, and science-based policies.

The Greens' plan:

• Support establishing and growing an Australian seaweed industry by investing $50 million in research, development and extension (RD&E) projects for commercial seaweed aquaculture and harvesting in Australia.