Environmental sustainability initiatives related to highly traded agricultural commodities: Case study of the Australian beef and wheat sectors

Increasing demands in the global marketplace for agricultural products with environmental sustainability credentials has created growing expectations for producers and exporters to demonstrate to trading partners actions to improve sustainability. This report examines how two trade-intensive sectors in Australia, the beef and wheat sectors, are responding to these demands through a range of public, public-private, and private environmental sustainability initiatives. A total of 17 key initiatives were identified, mostly in the beef sector, illustrating the relatively stronger sustainability demands in that sector. Over half of the initiatives are private, highlighting a key feature of the Australian approach: the development of sector-led frameworks to provide leadership on environmental sustainability for sector stakeholders, including farmers. Public initiatives emphasise economic, information, and investment instruments, with trading systems emerging as an important part of Australia’s approach. Public-private partnerships are strong, and the government supports industry efforts to voluntarily improve environmental performance and self-report.