SOUTH Australian farmers are gathering in McLaren Vale this week to find out how they can be part of the solution to climate change, at a workshop held by Farmers for Climate Action.
The workshop is on from November 9 to 11, coinciding with the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
The 21 leading farmers, from a variety of industries, in attendance will hear from experts including SARDI climate scientist Peter Hayman, Jen Barwick from Department of Primary Industries and Regions to explain their carbon farming roadmap, and a solar power company focused on water pumping and off-grid systems.
Farmers for Climate Action SA coordinator Ellen Litchfield said the three-day workshop was part of a fellowship to help connect farmers that were passionate about making their farms more resilient, and to get climate action happening across Australia.
"Farmers are already feeling the effects of climate change on-farm and they want to be prepared," she said.
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"The farmers coming are leaders in their communities and want to help other people in their community see that climate change isn't just a political debate.
"It's happening and is already impacting their businesses and the right policy framework will help them through this.
"In Australia, we need climate action taken this decade. The industry that feeds and clothes us relies on this."
Kangaroo Island farmer Carly Buttrose is attending the workshop and says it's a great opportunity to have important conversations around how farmers can be a big part of the solution to climate change.
"Farmers are the custodians of huge swathes of this earth. There are not many individuals who really have the power to change our climate in the way that farmers do," she said.
"There are already systems that have a positive effect on climate and profitability, which is really exciting."
Farmers for Climate Action is a movement of more than 6000 farmers and agricultural leaders working to ensure that farmers, who are on the frontlines of climate change, are part of its solution.
