Ebook Best management practice adoption in the sugar industry for improving water quality: The Mackay Whitsunday region
In 2005, the Consortium for Integrated Resource Management (CIRM), through its Reef Catchments Working Group (RCWG), completed a detailed analysis of research and development relating to the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) (State of Queensland and Commonwealth of Australia, 2003). The RCWG, which included both R&D users and R&D providers from 18 organisations, first produced a compendium of current R&D being undertaken to support the Reef Plan (Prange et al., 2005), then later that year, a detailed analysis of R&D needs and priorities for future research to support the Reef Plan (Clark et al., 2006) was published.
Clark et al. (2006) suggested more work was needed to develop new models for water quality processes, including the translation of that information into knowledge that would lead to comprehensive, well-understood decision-making tools for land managers and policy makers. A clear understanding of community needs and aspirations was also required, to provide insight into the factors that encourage or inhibit the uptake of new and existing improved management approaches intended to sustain good water quality.
In particular, Clark et al. (2006) identified the need for refinement and evaluation of current best management practices (BMPs), especially in relation to their contribution towards minimising adverse downstream impacts. It was argued that before commissioning new reefrelated research on diffuse pollutants, a synthesis of what was already known of BMPs and their adoption by land managers ought to be a priority. Of those land practices operating within the reef catchments, sugarcane was selected as the focus of this work, due to the pre eminent role the industry plays in the region.
The RCWG was aware that uncertainty remained on what BMPs were available, their rates of adoption, and their consequential benefits to downstream water quality. To address these shortcomings, CIRM commissioned, in 2007, a research team from Central Queensland University (CQU) to:
- identify BMPs in the cane industry relevant to achievement of Reef Plan goals
- assess the impacts on water quality that would be generated by the adoption of the various BMPs
- identify production trade-offs (economic incentives and barriers) that might be associated with the different BMPs
- identify other social, knowledge and attitudinal factors that might limit adoption of the different BMP practices.
The cane growing region of eastern Queensland from Proserpine to Sarina (known in the sugar industry as the central region) was chosen as the focus region. Figure 1 shows the region’s location and its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
This report derives from an unpublished report to CIRM by Rolfe et al. (2007) and it represents a compilation of new and existing knowledge on current BMPs for sugarcane farming, with emphasis on practices that lead to improved water quality. It will inform strategic policy makers and land managers about issues that relate to and impact on extension, policy development and regulatory responses outlined in the Reef Plan, and will also contribute to a shared understanding by all stakeholders of the knowledge needed to support the implementation of enhanced property-level management practices. For completeness, the report includes a précis of local water quality issues and related BMPs. The report is also intended to be relevant to current and proposed investments in R&D by Commonwealth, State, local and regional stakeholders.
Contents
Executive summary
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Background
- 3.1 Queensland’s central region
3.2 Water quality issues
3.3 Sugarcane and water quality in the central region
3.4 Efforts to improve water quality
4. Best management practices
- 4.1 BMPs for sustainable agriculture
4.2 Existing BMPs for growing sugarcane
4.3 BMPs relevant to the canelands in the central region
5. Adoption of best management practices
- 5.1 Issues that enhance or impede the adoption of improved management practices
5.2 Mechanisms to facilitate adoption
5.3 Selection of policy instruments
5.4 Program factors influencing adoption
6. Strategies for BMP adoption in the central region
- 6.1 Previous studies of barriers to and incentives for BMP adoption
6.2 Developing effective BMP packages
6.3 Attitudes of farmers in the central region to adopting BMPs
7. Conclusions and recommendations
8. References
9. Appendixes
- Appendix 1 What is CIRM?
Appendix 2 Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing in Queensland
Appendix 3 BMPs for sugarcane production in the Tully-Murray catchment
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