Elissa brings more than 20 years’ experience addressing complex issues such as climate change, emissions reduction and water quality management.
Today, her work is focused on delivering initiatives that help improve on farm environmental outcomes for dairy farmers. This includes navigating the challenges and expectations of their many stakeholders.
Elissa’s role also sees her lead Dairy Australia’s environmental research initiatives. These investigate medium and long-term solutions to support farmers be even more resilient to a changing and variable climate.
“Much of that research is focused on efficiency and being better able to withstand shocks such as major heat waves, bushfires or flooding. And we know that practical solutions need to be profitable for dairy farms as well as deliver environmental outcomes,” Elissa says.
Environmental tracking
A valuable resource introduced during Elissa’s time in the role is the Farm Environmental Tracker, an online assessment platform that simplifies the process of evaluating and strengthening farm sustainability practices.
The tool allows farmers to assess their environmental performance across seven critical topics, including water management, biodiversity, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Farm Environmental Tracker allows farmers to dig into the details of their sustainability practices – including their environmental management. The resources help them identify options suitable for their farm and to plan their actions going forward,” Elissa explains.
Elissa actively engages with farmers, service providers and regional teams to tailor solutions that address the specific needs of the dairy community. This approach aligns with Dairy Australia’s mission to help the industry thrive while positively contributing to environmental sustainability.
Understanding farm carbon
Elissa and her team recognise that the market is changing rapidly.
“We also make sure we're across emerging issues and are thinking about the long-term future of the industry,” she says.
“A key component of this is around supporting farmers when it comes to managing, understanding and being able to profitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet the market access demand going forward.”
A recent study for the Australian dairy industry identified both greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience as among the top five ongoing issues dairy farmers face.
Dairy Australia is developing farmer extension and support in climate change adaptation, environmental stewardship and understanding greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the delivery of a range of farmer workshops in all dairying regions across Australia.
“We know government, and other dairy industry stakeholders have emissions reduction targets. We’re helping dairy farmers to prepare for these conversations with their processors and banks.”
Elissa also assists the industry meet the requirements and environmental expectations of other stakeholders, such as government, banks, processors and consumers.
For dairy farmers looking to enhance their sustainability efforts, Elissa suggests utilising the Farm Environmental Tracker and the Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator.
“Each farm is unique, and these tools provide tailored insights. Additionally, attending workshops can help build confidence in using these resources and foster a deeper understanding of sustainable practices,” she says.
To find out more about how Dairy Australia supports farmers to better manage climate and environment, visit dairyaustralia.com.au/climate-and-environment.
