Australia invests A$37.6 million in agriculture

Australia is investing A$37.6 million (US$30.7 million) in research programmes to help farmers and agriculture better cope with climate change.

Among the projects is a national CSIRO initiative to develop genetic traits in wheat and sorghum that suit hotter, drier environments with higher levels of carbon dioxide. Also to be investigated are the business opportunities and risks from relocating some crops and processing industries to northern Australia.

This follows an ABARE report that warns emission trading could slash farmers' income by as much as 22 percent. That amounts to A$11,000 (US$9,000) in income lost each year for an average-sized farm of which beef and sheep producers are hit the hardest.

Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said this research investment would help the grain, grape, dairy, aquaculture and beef industries adapt to climate change.

The research investment includes A$11 million (US$9 million) from the government and contributions from industry research bodies including and Livestock Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, said Burke.

Also to be investigated under this round are the implications of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture and stress in the dairy, beef and sheep industries in southern Australia.