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Communities in Transition 

for Queensland Communities

Indigenous Artist - Roel Wijnants | https://flic.kr/p/PYTzL

Lychees - CSIRO - Science Image - 2309

Lichen & street scene - Quest Media

Crops, hay bales & wooden fence- Quest Media

Sustainable Food Systems
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General
Strategies 
Alliances
Best Practice Management
Media
General 

Sustainable Food Systems in Northern Queensland, 2014, Breda L. McCarthy, Journal of Economic and Social Policy, Vol. 16, Iss. 1 , Article 4.

This paper explores the development of sustainable food systems in Northern Queensland and draws conclusions as to how they can grow and become more stable in the future. It shows how a community is actively and creatively deploying local networks and local resources in order to gain access to locally-grown, sustainable food. The development of this alternative agri-food network (AAFN) is driven by grassroots movements and underpinned by a strong, not-for-profit sector consisting of environmentalists, community leaders and food activists, who are highly critical of the mainstream agri-food system. The opportunities and challenges faced by actors in alternative food systems are discussed. At federal government level, the adoption of intensive, productivist-based agriculture runs counter to the philosophy of AAFNs. In a political environment that clearly favours economic development, the issue for local communities is how can they influence food and agricultural policy?

Guide to Planning for healthy Agriculture in Queensland, 2015, Queensland Farmers Federation 

This booklet is about planning principles to ensure that agriculture can continue to grow and provide food, fibre, timber and other products to a growing population. Agricultural production and supply systems are concerned with the production, transport, processing and supply of food, fibre, timber and foliage to consumers. Planning and agriculture come together when society is faced with choices about the location of food production in relation to future housing, industry and infrastructure and where in the landscape, these uses will best maintain environmental processes.

Strategies 

Northern Central Victoria Regional Sustainable Agricultural Strategy, 2016, North Central Catchment Management Authority

The north central Victoria Regional Sustainable Agriculture Strategy (the Strategy) sets the strategic direction to seize growth opportunities by increasing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, addressing the change factors outlined above and protecting the natural resource base on which agriculture depends. 

Alliances 

The Australian Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform

​The Australian Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform came together in 1997 from across food and beverage value-chain to provide practical and commercial perspectives on issues and policies that impact Australia’s agricultural sector.

Best Practice Management
myBMP (for cotton growers and cotton ginning and classing facilities) 
myBMP’ is a voluntary farm and environmental management system which provides self-assessment mechanisms, practical tools and auditing processes to ensure that Australian cotton is produced according to best practice.
 
Modules: Biosecurity, Energy and Input Efficiency, Fibre Quality, Human Resources and Work Health and Safety, Integrated Pest Management, Sustainable Natural Landscape, Pesticide Management, Petrochemical Storage and Handling, Soil Health and Water Management. 
Grazing BMP Best Management Practices (graziers)
Grazing BMP is a joint partnership between AgForce Queensland, Fitzroy Basin Association and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) that allows graziers to anonymously benchmark their current business practices and stewardship performance and compare their results against the rest of the industry. 

Modules: Soil Health (Soil types,  soil physical and chemical properties, soil biology, fertilizer use), People and Business ( Business planning, business knowledge and skills, human resources, WHS, Chemical use and records) , Grazing Land Management (Maps and property information, Land capability and condition,  Managing grazing pressure and land resource, weeds and pest animals) Animal Production (Markets and marketing, managing reproduction, weaning and weaner management, managing nutrient and genetics), Animal Health and Welfare (Health management program, biosecurity, animal welfare,  livestock transport). Pesticide Application, Making the most of rainfall, Property Design and Layout, Integrated Pest Management, Grain Storage & Early Harvest, Managing Climate Risk, Crop Nutrition and Soil Fertility Management 

Media

2018

Australia leads the charge on sustainable beef, The Land

General
Strategies
Alliances
Best Practice Management
Media
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