Australia’s peak farm body has thrown its weight behind an aspirational economy-wide target of net carbon zero by 2050 (NCZ2050).

Members of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) have voted in favour of the landmark policy – which includes strict caveats regarding fair implementation and economic viability – at an online meeting this month.

NFF President Fiona Simson said the strengthening of the NFF’s climate goals was a strong reminder of the role farmers already played in tackling emissions.

“Australia’s farm sector continues to be a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Ms Simson said.

“In the past decade, agriculture has consistently reduced its emissions intensity and net emissions within the Australian economy.

“The red meat sector, for example, has a target of being carbon neutral by 2030 and is already making great headway on research and new technologies that will enable that transformation.”

However, despite progress in the farm sector, Ms Simson warned the goal of NCZ2050 would be just an aspiration without ongoing innovation and policy support.

“We need to equip farmers with far better tools for evaluating and reporting on individual business emissions,” Ms Simson said.

“This will require new investment in research and development, so we have more robust baseline information, new pathways to reduce emissions, and fewer barriers to participation in carbon markets.”

Action on climate change is a central part of the NFF’s 2030 Roadmap which sets a vision for agriculture to reach $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030.

“There is a huge potential for Australia to be a global leader in low-emissions agriculture,” Ms Simson said.

Click here to view the NFF’s climate change policy.