Green Sheep Project to equip producers for a climate-smart future

A national effort to future-proof the Australian sheep industry and strengthen its sustainability will begin next year.

The Green Sheep Project - led by Sheep Producers Australia - is a major national initiative to support the sheep industry with practical tools and knowledge to respond to a changing climate and meet growing global demand for verified sustainability credentials.

Over three years, the Green Sheep Project will partner with Natural Resource Management organisations and supply chain-bodies to equip producers with user-friendly tools for demonstrating their environmental credentials, support improved grazing and pasture management, document natural capital and make data-driven decisions.

Sheep Producers Australia Chief Executive Officer Bonnie Skinner said the Green Sheep Project supports important capacity building for long-term industry success.

“This project is an investment in our world-leading industry,” she said.

“Equipping sheep producers with the skills and knowledge to support climate-smart practices and the uptake of practical tools to that verify their sustainability credentials to their customers.”

Supported across the supply chain stakeholders and the Australian Government, this work will include on-farm trials in Victoria, Western Australia, NSW and Tasmania.

Sheep Producers Australia Sustainability Policy Advisor Carolyn Cameron said it’s important for the entire industry to meet today’s challenges while shaping tomorrow’s opportunities.

“What makes the Green Sheep Project unique is the whole-of-sector approach -  from producers to processors and industry bodies all at the same table,” she said.

“That level of collaboration demonstrates just how important this work is for the future of our industry.”

Delivered by Sheep Producers Australia with Glenelg Hopkins CMA, NRM South, Holbrook Landcare Network and Wheatbelt NRM and supported by Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Integrity Systems Company, AUS-MEAT, AMIC and the Southern Australia Livestock Research Council - the project combines on-farm action with whole-of-supply-chain expertise.

This Climate Smart Sheep: Building industry capacity across the supply chain (Green Sheep) Project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.