Matching genetics and management to the operating environment is the fundamental challenge of agriculture. To not do this either incurs unnecessary risk/cost or misses out on opportunities. Climate is a fundamental part of the operating environment of agriculture in Australia, affecting all parts of the supply chain as well as communities and economies. It is becoming increasingly clear that our climate is changing due to human influence, that this is already having impacts on Australian and global agriculture and that future effects will be pervasive. The rationale for more effective climate adaptation is strong. Similarly, agriculture accounts for more than a quarter of emissions and hence there is a need (and pportunity) for this sector to play a significant role in emission-reduction. This seminar will address how Australian agriculture can address these challenges.

Professor Mark Howden is Director of the Climate Change Institute at ANU, a Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a member of the Australian National Climate Science Advisory Committee. He was on the US Federal Advisory Committee for the 3rd National Climate Assessment and contributes to several major national and international science and policy advisory bodies. Mark has worked on climate variability, climate change, innovation and adoption issues for over 30 years in partnership with many industry, community and policy groups via both research and science-policy roles. Issues he has addressed include agriculture and food security, the natural resource base, ecosystems and biodiversity, energy, water and urban systems. He helped develop both the national and international greenhouse gas inventories that are a fundamental part of the Paris Agreement and has assessed sustainable ways to reduce emissions. He has been a major contributor to the IPCC since 1991, sharing the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Registration not required.  This lecture is free and open to the public.

Seminar is preceded with a light lunch at noon.

RSB event information: biology.anu.edu.au/news-events

Presented by The Research School of Biology ANU College of Science