Submission on Complex Drought Challenges Facing Australian Agriculture

Australia faces increasingly severe droughts due to climate change, threatening its agricultural regions and communities. The Future Drought Fund can help support the environment and communities facing drought challenges through investment in research, innovation, and sustainable farming practices. ATSE’s submission recommends investing in drought-resistant crop research, long-term management policies, and regenerative agriculture to better adapt to the changing climate. Improved water governance is recommended to enhance resilience and water security in the face of extreme weather events such as droughts. ATSE highlights the need for strengthening collaboration between government, industry, and academia while encouraging the use of Traditional Knowledge to develop land and water management strategies. Additionally, upgrading climate modelling and forecasting systems will support better planning and response strategies.  

Recommendations from ATSE’s submission 

Recommendation 1: Increase investment in dryland and drought-tolerant crops and techniques to promote diversification and reduce reliance on water-intensive farming, particularly in severely affected agricultural hubs.  

Recommendation 2: Support the development of further governance surrounding water resource management and flexible distribution.  

Recommendation 3: Use the Future Drought Fund to scale up investment in regenerative agriculture and agroforestry, which improve soil carbon storage, water retention, and long-term productivity.  

Recommendation 4: Strengthen collaboration between government, research institutions, and industry, while encouraging proactive learnings from Traditional Knowledge, international knowledge-sharing, and technology adaptation for Australia’s benefit.  

Recommendation 5: Upgrade high-performance computing to support improved climate modelling and forecasting systems.